Lee Collymore signed for Crewe Alexander as a youth trainee, but his career came to a crossroads after picking up an injury, and he was released.
But after a difficult period Lee has turned his career around and obtained a degree at Wolverhampton University in Social Policy and Sociology, and is working in a whole new field now.
Givemefootball’s Lawrie Madden caught up with him to find out more...
Q: You got released from Crewe. What did you do next?
A: After
Crewe Alexandra I was a bit lost and didn’t really know what to do. My mum coaxed me and asked me to consider going to University. I went to the Open days and didn’t like it, but eventually I went back and studied for a degree.
Q: How did you find it?
A: It was stressful but worthwhile. The assignments and managing the workloads took a while to get used too. I would definitely recommend it. If you find the right course everything falls into place.
Q: Did the PFA offer you any assistance?
A: I wasn’t aware of the PFA until my dad made me aware. He had a friend whose son played football and had gone to the PFA for support. So I had started the course before I knew about the PFA. But once I did the paperwork it was very quick and they helped me out a great deal.
Q: So what are you doing now?
A: I have two part-time jobs working in a school and also working with youngsters who have been excluded from mainstream education and I try and mentor them and get them reintegrated back.
Q: How much did the degree help you?
A: The degree helped me to gain skills. How to talk to people, how to talk to young people to try and get the best out of them and relate to them.
Q: If you hadn’t gone back and got a degree what would you have done?
A: I don’t know. I do know I was dying on my feet. I would say to other lads who have no idea – go and talk to people, bounce ideas off others and find yourself. When it didn’t happen for me with football it was a big cultural shock but now it has given me a new lease of life and I am moving forward.
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