The Bristol student is returning to the American football club as a coach after suffering a spinal injury

Archie says he didn’t want to “give up my friends” at his beloved sports club

Bristol Uni student Archie Wills-Johnson was forced to retire from American football after a serious spinal injury in 2022. Showing impressive dedication to his team, he has since returned to Bristol Barracuda as coach and team manager .

Joining university in 2021 to study biology, Archie started American football, a club available to all students through the Bristol University Students’ Union.

However, midway through a match in December 2022, Archie experienced what he described as a “big electric shock” on his right arm. This “electric shock” turned out to be nothing less than a herniated disc, which meant that the cartilage between the vertebrae was compressing his spinal cord. Archie recalls: “I was really scared, I didn’t know what was going on.”

He recounts the stressful and terrifying experience of being rushed to hospital: A&E staff were ringing specialist operating theaters across the South West trying to find anywhere that would have space for me.”

Archie is still not sure what triggered this serious injury. He said: “I’m still not sure what caused it. I had some low-level nerve pain in my shoulder before the electric shock, so it was probably wear and tear followed by a sudden shock, but it’s hard to pinpoint.”

Archie was at risk of paralysis if he continued to play contact sports; if the herniated disc was left untreated, he would continue to suffer electric shocks, which could lead to paralysis.

This was a dramatic change for Archie. Before the injury, he played up to 20 hours of contact sports per week at linebacker and safety. Suddenly, he struggles with chronic pain, losing both the sport he loved and the social life of the club.

Images from University of Bristol Barracuda Media Day – Bristol Barracuda Media Day – University of Bristol Student Union – 19 September 2023

Archie was discharged from hospital just three days before Christmas and, with the help of the NHS and the university’s counseling team and Student Health Service, began to recover physically and mentally.

Archie was adamant the injury would not keep him away from the Bristol Barracuda. He said he refused to “give up my friends or give up my position” as a member of the club’s committee.

Impressively, Archie returned to the Barracuda as a coach, helping with technique during sessions as well as video analysis. He also plays an important role in the behind-the-scenes leadership of the 60-strong team. Archie has since been elected vice-chairman of the Bristol Barracuda and has helped increase female participation through Flag Football (similar to tag rugby), including a well-attended tournament.

For this incredible display of dedication and resilience, Archie received an “Outstanding” PLUS Award from the University. More than 1,000 students achieve the PLUS Award each year, which rewards extracurricular activities such as volunteering, but only eight earn at the Outstanding level.

Archie won in the ‘Resilience’ category – a fitting award given all he has overcome. Bristol PLUS Award manager Celeste Waller-Carr said: “We have been truly inspired by Archie and his determination to continue to give back to the club he loves.”

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