The Australian Medical Football Team (Docceroos) founded by Dr Alan Jones has it's origins seated at Chermside Medical Centre.

For many, football is a passion that begins shortly after we take our very first steps on this Earth. Medicine is another passion, however this journey usually begins later in life. These two passions often compete ferociously and usually one prevails. It is with great pleasure that The World Medical Football Federation seeks to carry on the tradition of uniting Medicine and Football.

This tradition has been incubated by Dr Ferran Morell in the form of The World Medical Football Championship for Medical Teams which for 10 years saw various Medical Teams come together in Barcelona. The training fields and Football Estadi of F.C. Barcelona embraced the coming together of many doctors from all parts of the globe but primarily from around Europe in the form of regional and international football teams of doctors. Football, friendship, sharing of medical knowledge through a structured lecture format and celebration amongst like minded professionals has created for many, a trip of a lifetime.

In 2004, Dr Morell cut the umbilical cord and set his baby free to travel the globe. Rio de Janeiro under the guise of Dr Carlos Figuiredo hosted the XIth World Medical Football Championship for Medical Teams. 6 regional teams from Brazil and 5 teams from abroad competed in a very successful tournament in a heartland of football passion.

Dr Clemens Vogel took great opportunity in hosting the following year's championships the week prior to the World Cup in Mainz, Germany. Out of necessity, the number of teams was restricted and as such the flavour of the tournament moved more toward truly international teams. Spain, Germany, Brazil, Australia, Sweden, Lithuiania, South Korea, Hungary, United Kingdom and Austria competed with Brazil ending up eventual winners against Catalonia in the final. The conference hosted numerous experts in their respective fields of medicine with a lecture program of the highest quality. The social highlight involved a cruise down the Rhine river followed by dinner and raucous singing in the dungeon of a castle.

2007 saw the tournament move to the other side of the globe, hosted on the Gold Coast in Australia hosted by Dr Alan Jones. 8 teams visited our glorious beachside paradise where Catalonia where the years winners.

2008 returned to Europe where Lithuania hosted a fabulous tournament on the edge of the Baltic Sea. Hungary rose to take the trophy.

The 2009 tournament was hosted in Seoul in South Korea where Brazil returned to the mantle as champions.

We all wait with baited breath for the 2010 tournament which will be held in Innsbruck, Austria.

www.worldmedicalfootballfederation.com

Dr Alan Jones