Carl Muggleton – Notts County coach

Carl Muggleton is hoping that he can help steer Notts County to success with the help of the PFA after passing his driving instructor’s course. The 40-year-old played over 600 professional games for 14 clubs over a 20-year career but he hasn’t sat idly about since finally hanging up his boots.

As well as being Notts County’s goalkeeping coach, Muggleton is also a qualified driving instructor and has his own thriving business. In fact, Muggleton’s love of driving doesn’t stop there as the PFA also funded him through his HGV Licence as well.

Whilst he harbours ambitions to return to football in a full-time capacity, Muggleton now has a business for life that appears to be recession-proof in this current climate. Givemefootball’s Ian Clarkson caught up with the Magpies’ very own version of Lewis Hamilton to find out what drives him on in life after football.

WHEN DID YOU START DRIVING FOR A LIVING?
I was released from Chesterfield about three years ago and the PFA helped fund me through and HGV drivers course so I helped one of my mates who runs a skip hire company.  I also did some agency work and was driving a 30-tonne truck but I still needed to find something I felt was a bit more long-term.

IS THAT WHEN YOU DECIDED TO BECOME A DRIVING INSTRUCTOR?
One of my friends asked me to take his daughter out for a driving lesson and I thought I would give it a go.  It went well and I spoke to Pat Lally at the PFA and they helped me with my driving instructor’s course.  The PFA have been a great help to me and I would recommend all former players get in touch with them as their support enabled me to get started on an alternative career.

WHAT WAS THE COURSE LIKE?
It is very intense and split into three sections. You get three opportunities to pass all of the sections and if you don’t then that is it, so the pressure is on. The first part is a hazards section and a theory test and you needed to get 80 per cent or above to pass and I managed that first time.  The second part tests your own driving ability and it is like re-taking your driving test.  You drive for an hour and are only allowed six minor faults within that period of time.  Once again I got through that at the first attempt but it was the final section that was really difficult.

WHAT DID IT ENTAIL?
This is your actual teaching qualification and there are strict guidelines and it is very intense.  I would liken it to taking your coaching badges in that you have to get your hours done and you are assessed on a topic.  However, you are only told you topic on the morning of the test when you arrive and you have to teach three separate ones for 20 minutes.  It is incredibly nerve-wracking and it took me the third attempt to finally pass.  You are marked between one and six and you need to score a minimum of four to pass, which I finally got on my third attempt with a 5-5!

WHAT HAPPENED NEXT?
I set up my own driving instructor’s business and it is going well. I am self-employed so that means I can fit my work in around my commitments at Notts County.  I am currently goalkeeping coach there and work with the keepers for two-three days a week as well as attend games, which is great.  However, I really enjoy being a driving instructor too and it is a trade that I will have forever.  I am still involved in football and I think all players who have played would like involvement of some description.  If I could get back into football full time that would be the ideal scenario but I am very happy with what I am doing at present.