Post by QPR Report on Oct 6, 2009 12:07:51 GMT
Don't know if anyone read his book, Left Foot Forward. Included re his career at Charlton under joint manager Alan Curbishley when just starting
Footbal League
HERE ARE THEY NOW: GARRY NELSON
Posted on: 06.10.2009
How many footballers with marketing degrees can you name? How many ex-pros can you think of who have written and published two successful books? Or have worked in TV in a capacity other than punditry?
And how many do you know that have done all three?
Garry Nelson is one player who has not followed the typical coaching or media route having hung up his boots.
The ex-Plymouth Argyle, Swindon Town, Brighton & Hove Albion and Charlton Athletic winger wrote his first book, Left Foot Forward, while at The Valley, before completing a degree in marketing.
By the time he called time on his pro career, at Torquay United, he'd written a second, entitled Left Foot in the Grave.
And he has since been instrumental in improving fellow players' post-football prospects in his work for the Professional Footballers Association.
But when asked about how he embarked on such a varied career after hanging up his boots, he said: "They're not hung up just yet!
"I still play in the Premier Division of my local Veterans League - the same one that Southend United manager Steve Tilson turns out for on a regular basis.
"And I am regularly involved in matches for Charlton's Former Players' Association."
In 1997 Nelson was faced with a choice: another season as player-coach at Torquay or to take on the role of commercial executive at the PFA.
The PFA job looked more secure as he had a wife and young family, so he opted for a role behind the desk.
During this time he instigated the Masters Football League as well as securing deals for ex-pros to work as statisticians at matches for the Press Association.
After the PFA he was hired by ITV Digital, where he stayed until its collapse in 2002, when he joined his present employer Oakwood Promotions.
At Oakwood he negotiates benefits for employee groups and unions and he admits: "On the face of it is pretty far removed from football.
"But I was doing similar things for the PFA, so it is not totally alien to me."
Although turning out for Old Southendians satisfies his competitive streak, Nelson still harbours a desire to coach.
He has done his UEFA A licence and done sessions in Hong Kong - and he admits the normal working world can't hold a candle to life in football.
He added: "It is nowhere near as much fun, working every day. As a player or coach you have the weekly focus of a game, which you can influence to some degree. And there are some amazing highs which keep you motivated.
"In business it is a lot more flat-lined, because you don't have the terrific highs or crushing lows, which thankfully I didn't have many of. A lot of is dealing with people's problems."
www.football-league.co.uk/features/where-are-they-now-garry-nelson-20091006_2249035_1817753
Footbal League
HERE ARE THEY NOW: GARRY NELSON
Posted on: 06.10.2009
How many footballers with marketing degrees can you name? How many ex-pros can you think of who have written and published two successful books? Or have worked in TV in a capacity other than punditry?
And how many do you know that have done all three?
Garry Nelson is one player who has not followed the typical coaching or media route having hung up his boots.
The ex-Plymouth Argyle, Swindon Town, Brighton & Hove Albion and Charlton Athletic winger wrote his first book, Left Foot Forward, while at The Valley, before completing a degree in marketing.
By the time he called time on his pro career, at Torquay United, he'd written a second, entitled Left Foot in the Grave.
And he has since been instrumental in improving fellow players' post-football prospects in his work for the Professional Footballers Association.
But when asked about how he embarked on such a varied career after hanging up his boots, he said: "They're not hung up just yet!
"I still play in the Premier Division of my local Veterans League - the same one that Southend United manager Steve Tilson turns out for on a regular basis.
"And I am regularly involved in matches for Charlton's Former Players' Association."
In 1997 Nelson was faced with a choice: another season as player-coach at Torquay or to take on the role of commercial executive at the PFA.
The PFA job looked more secure as he had a wife and young family, so he opted for a role behind the desk.
During this time he instigated the Masters Football League as well as securing deals for ex-pros to work as statisticians at matches for the Press Association.
After the PFA he was hired by ITV Digital, where he stayed until its collapse in 2002, when he joined his present employer Oakwood Promotions.
At Oakwood he negotiates benefits for employee groups and unions and he admits: "On the face of it is pretty far removed from football.
"But I was doing similar things for the PFA, so it is not totally alien to me."
Although turning out for Old Southendians satisfies his competitive streak, Nelson still harbours a desire to coach.
He has done his UEFA A licence and done sessions in Hong Kong - and he admits the normal working world can't hold a candle to life in football.
He added: "It is nowhere near as much fun, working every day. As a player or coach you have the weekly focus of a game, which you can influence to some degree. And there are some amazing highs which keep you motivated.
"In business it is a lot more flat-lined, because you don't have the terrific highs or crushing lows, which thankfully I didn't have many of. A lot of is dealing with people's problems."
www.football-league.co.uk/features/where-are-they-now-garry-nelson-20091006_2249035_1817753
