Former Wales international opens up about challenges facing professional footballers

Former Wales international striker Simon Haworth has likened the end of his professional football career to leaving prison.

Simon was forced to retire early from the game due to injury in 2005, having made five appearances for Wales during a 10-year career that took him to Premier League Coventry City, before moving on to Wigan Athletic and Tranmere Rovers. 

And 48-year-old Simon is in no doubt about the personal impact on him:

‘I know that mentioning leaving prison sounds a bit extreme, but that’s how it felt,’ he told The Players Foundation website. ‘I was kind of institutionalised with keeping fit around my teammates and then you walk out of the car park with your wash bag for the last time and that’s it.’

Simon is one of hundreds of ex-pros who’ve sought support from the Foundation, which, as an independent charity, offers help to current and former professionals who find themselves experiencing severe hardship and meet the required criteria.

Simon received a grant via the Foundation’s Game Changing Support initiative. He is now completing his training as a psychotherapist and hosts sessions with ex-players to encourage them to seek support when they need it.

Simon added: ‘The Players Foundation was brilliant. It helped me through a tough time in my life and helped me to survive and get back on my feet. Without that support, I wouldn’t have been in a position to go and reset my life, so it proved invaluable to me.’

Simon has a strong message to players who may be facing similarly difficult challenges: ‘Be mature about it. This is not a career that lasts for ever and post-playing is another set of challenges. Any help you can get from the Foundation to prepare you for the transition, go and ask the question. I certainly wish I’d done it a lot sooner.’

Since January 2024, the Foundation has distributed a total of £400,000 in charitable support as part of the Game Changing Support programme, including Family Support, Winter Fuel, Cost of Living and Educational Resources.