PFA Scotland had a record attendance at their Careers Day at Hampden on Wednesday which they have put down to the increased knowledge their members have on the state of finance in the game and a growing desire to have their future sorted long before a contract ends.
Players from all four divisions were in attendance with former Hibernian and Livingston midfielder Stuart Lovell, who is responsible for liaison between the Union and the players, saying: “Attendance at this annual event has improved year on year and in particular, we now have more senior players attending. There is an appreciation of the current financial climate as players wake up and smell the coffee and there are other factors leading to increased attendance as well.
“We have been doing this for a number of years now so word of mouth helps but we also have been more proactive in getting the message across via our website, our newsletter, twitter and in addition, our player representatives have also helped as well.”
There were more than 200 players in attendance in the conference facilities at the National Stadium with Lovell saying: “The afternoon sessions are always better attended due to travelling and training but the morning session with the first year apprentices did not have a spare seat in it.
“The numbers were up for the second year apprentices as well and the senior professional events were so well attended that we did run out of seats.”
Lovell explained how the event has evolved saying: “This event used to be attended mainly by second year apprentices who were coming to the end of their apprenticeship or guys who were not getting contracts and coming to the end of their playing careers. That has changed and whilst it used to be a bit of a doom and gloom event where support was needed immediately, that mood has lifted as we have started assisting players long before either of these events happens.”
Lovell continued, “This is all about players having a Plan B before it is too late and they find themselves out of work and not knowing what to do. The first year apprentices received a hard message that more than 50% of them will be released and they need to start planning for that now. That is the way it has been for 20 years and I am sure that is the way it will be for the next 20 years unless clubs flood their first team with youths to really save money.”
Lovell added: “We want to change the mindset of players who think they can only be footballers. Very few guys play until they are 40 and the reason that David Weir and Graham Alexander are so well known is because they are two of a very small group that have done that.
“We need players to understand they have transferrable skills from an early stage in their playing careers and that there are other avenues that can run alongside their football. Players have made huge commitments to their career, they know how to work as a team and are very fit and that makes them attractive to an employer.”
Lovell added: “When we talk about transferrable skills, some players look at you as if you are talking Dutch. Players need to be aware that they have shown a strong work ethic to get to where they are already and that they use that ethic in a group environment despite having their own individual role to play.
“Making a sacrifice for a job is nothing new to footballers as they have to look after themselves and be in top condition all the time as well as being mentally prepared to play in games. There is also a lot of travelling time spent as well so players are used to making commitments for their work.”
Lovell continued: “There is a cliché in the UK that football players are overpaid and underworked but I can assure you that the vast, vast majority are not like that.”
Lovell was asked how they will be able to assess if the PFA Scotland Careers Day had been a success and he replied: “It is not the type of day that you can give yourself a pat on the back and say 'that was a great day' and then just stop. Although turnout was high which is a measure of success, it is no more important to achieving the right level of diversity in the opportunities that we provide the players to consider.
“We cannot just tell them this is what they should consider, it is all about options. I have never wanted to be a policeman for example but for some guys, a career in the Police Force ticks a lot of boxes.”
Staying in football is often the option players want to take with Lovell saying: “Some want to remain in the game and that is understandable as that is all they have ever known. We have to reiterate to them that there are a finite number of jobs. Not every player can become a coach and then when we look at managers, there is even less opportunities.
“We want players to understand that they do not have to stick to the well established route of playing then coaching and then managing. Confidence is quite often the key in unlocking what a player wants to do because when they realise the skills they possess, they blossom. They can then understand the direction their career can go in if they want to step out of football.”
Lovell was keen to stress that the PFA Scotland Careers Day was not just about this one day as he said: “Our membership levels are increasing and we have a number of different roles to provide for our members. Younger players take a while to understand what our role is in supporting them as they tend to call their agent about everything.
“Of course, we provide support and trouble-shoot about disciplinary or contractual issues and we have great experience in that but we have a lot more strings to our bow than that.”
The attendees were provided with information on diverse areas such as sports scholarships in Scotland, England and America as well as career advice about the police, the fitness industry, financial services and football coaching.
The players attending the Careers Day at Hampden were given details on the following areas:-
University of Stirling – Football Scholarship
Raleigh Gowrie talked through training and playing for Stirling University whilst undertaking academic study. The Stirling team are high achievers both on and off the park and the First XI will travel to London next Wednesday, 2nd May to face Bath University in the Final of the British Universities Cup. The game is taking place at Crystal Palace’s Selhurst Park with a 4.00 p.m. kick off.
Gowrie also highlighted the cases of three players who left football – Lee Nicol, Liam Corr and Sam Filler (who was once a £85,000 signing for Middlesbrough) and who have now degree qualified studies as well as playing at semi-professional level with the university’s side in the East of Scotland League.
Pegasus Training
Former Inverness Caledonian Thistle and St. Johnstone youngster Sean Porter has built a career in the fitness industry after being released at the end of his time at Perth. He is now part of Pegasus Training that provide trainers for the health and fitness industry.
Players can carry out blended learning modules to attain the Level 3 Qualified Personal Trainer qualification that makes them attractive to employers such as the David Lloyd Health Clubs.
Forty professionals trained with Pegasus last season to secure a recognised qualification and there is the potential of a course being run this close season with financial assistance from PFA Scotland another possibility.
Willie Young from David Lloyd Health Clubs said: “We have employment opportunities with people qualified at Level 3. Football players tend to have skills we like as an employer as they can engage with customers, have good communication skills and are used to working in a team.”
The Police Force
Bob McDonald of Central Scotland Police Force explained the difference of the stability that a career in the Police could bring saying: “We tend to give 35 year contracts which is a bit different to football! But like football, we depend on teamwork and fitness.”
Nike Academy
Former Watford player Jimmy Gilligan and ex-Tottenham Hotspur youngster Matt Wells discussed the opportunities available at The Nike Academy which is based at Loughborough University in England.
The Nike Academy is a year long programme designed to give players a second chance to make the senior grade at the highest level, players that Gilligan calls ‘late bloomers.’
Dunfermline Athletic’s recent signing Alex Whittle is from Gilligan’s squad with the Nike Director saying: “We had 20 places at our Academy last season and two of the players came from Scotland. Ten of our players have been offered deals for this season and one of the players, Tom Rogic, is now an Australian Under-23 internationalist.”
First Point USA
The opportunity to play ‘soccer’ in stadiums housing thousands of fans at college level as well as studying for a degree was presented by First Point USA. David Weir did this 20 years ago and came back to star for various clubs both north and south of the border as well as playing for Scotland.
John Crawley did it more recently and he is now starring for Stirling Albion and examples of colleges, large and small, were provided with facilities that no other country can compete with being showcased.
Street League
The Changing Lives through Football ‘Street League’ programme highlighted the coaching opportunities available to work with people in various programmes designed to use football as a power for good in the community.
Former Partick Thistle player Steven Smith was showcased as an example of a former player who worked with Street League as sessional work before becoming part-time and building up academic qualifications along the way.
Player Availability
The Scottish Football League’s Player Availability Programme was also made available to all players in order that clubs are advised of which players are free to sign for new clubs in the summer.
Over 30 names were collected of players to make clubs aware that they want to stay in the game.
Other presentations were given by the SFA – Social Network Education and Coaching Pathways, Strathclyde University on PE teaching, Enterprise Screen – Media Training, Competence Matters – Routes to Trades, Begley Brown Financial Services – Careers in the Financial Services and, Active Soccer - Soccer Franchise Opportunities.
The Open University, the University of the West of Scotland and Glasgow College were also on hand to discuss the courses they have available.
More information on PFA Scotland can be found at pfascotland.co.uk
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