STUDENTS hoping to become Premier League football stars have been looking after their heart health thanks to the help of a Birchwood clinic.

Students from Robbie Fowler’s award-winning education and football academy visited Venturi Cardiology’s clinic recently for free heart screenings.

The students were also given a tour of the clinic’s specialist equipment and advice on heart disease and how to keep their hearts healthy.

The Robbie Fowler Education and Football Academy is a sixth form college in Liverpool specialises in the delivery of BTEC Sport and Exercise Science qualifications, A-Levels and coaching qualifications.

Stars of the academy’s football teams, aged between 16 and 19, play at the highest standard available outside of academy football.

During their visit, the students, who have been learning about the cardiovascular system as part of their course, were able to see the anatomy of their own heart using Venturi Cardiology’s imaging equipment.

Students from The Robbie Fowler Education and Football Academy receive a guided tour and free heart screenings from Venturi Cardiology in Birchwood

Students from The Robbie Fowler Education and Football Academy receive a guided tour and free heart screenings from Venturi Cardiology in Birchwood

They also heard from Warrington charity The Adam Lewis Effect about sudden adult death syndrome (SADs), and the relative prevalence of the condition in young people.

Adam Lewis sadly died from the syndrome in 2014, at the age of just 24.

Former Liverpool striker Fowler, who had a heart check at the clinic on World Heart Day last year, said: “The partnership with Venturi is a perfect match for the academy.

“There has been an increased awareness of heart disease within football, and Venturi will work closely with our staff and students to highlight this further.”

Consultant preventative cardiologist Dr Scott Murray, one of the founders of Venturi Cardiology, has regularly spoken about heart disease in footballers following the collapse of Christian Eriksen.

Consultant preventative cardiologist Dr Scott Murray, one of the founders of Venturi Cardiology

Consultant preventative cardiologist Dr Scott Murray, one of the founders of Venturi Cardiology

He said: “It was great to invite a number of students from Robbie Fowler’s academy to our clinic.

“We screened all the students for ECG abnormalities and showed them the equipment we use to carry out echocardiograms and CT scans.

“We are very fortunate to have this amazing clinic at our disposal and it was a brilliant chance for the students to reinforce their classroom learning with real world experience.

“There is a big focus at the moment on cardiac health in footballers, so this was an ideal opportunity for the players to learn about their own heart health and the things they can do to keep their heart healthy.

“They left Venturi with the peace of mind that their hearts were all in great working order, and hopefully increased awareness of the risk of heart disease and what they can be doing now to prevent it.”

Students from The Robbie Fowler Education and Football Academy receive a guided tour and free heart screenings from Venturi Cardiology in Birchwood

Students from The Robbie Fowler Education and Football Academy receive a guided tour and free heart screenings from Venturi Cardiology in Birchwood

Ishmael Sonko, a student at the academy, said: “I really wanted to see how healthy my heart is.

“The doctor was able to reassure me that I am very fit, and days like today, coming to a facility like this, are really important for all of us.”

Fellow student Matthew Grivosti added: “I felt very comfortable throughout the whole test. It could be stressful coming somewhere like this, but it was not at all.

“It was great to have a heart screening and also to learn about heart health.

“I am going to take these learnings back to my family as I feel that more people need to know about the risks of heart disease.”