The new Chair of The Players Foundation, Gareth Farrelly, says the right support and guidance will allow ex-professional footballers to find their own path to a second career, and hopefully excel in their chosen area.
‘The thing with The Players Foundation is knowing that there’s somebody who will listen, relate, and hopefully provide advice or guidance to help individuals pursue their next step. There’s no right or wrong path. People will find their way through a specific interest, trial and error, fall into something accidentally, or personal experience,’ says Gareth, who re-trained as a lawyer once he completed his 16-year playing career.
Gareth added: ‘They might try it and decide it’s not for them, and move to something else, but you hope that the support they’ve received will spark a lifelong desire for learning.’
The Foundation is currently offering student living grants to support players with the day-to-day costs of attending full-time university. More than 200 applications have so far been received, with a closing date of the end of October – Student Living Expense Grant – The Players Foundation
Gareth, who was appointed Chair in July, believes partnerships with other football stakeholders are crucial to delivering successful support for players:
‘It’s not about who does what, it’s about who can provide the best guidance and direction at the right time, to help. At The Players Foundation, I’m proud to be working alongside a talented board and operational team who offer support on varying levels to people who need it most. This will only grow and develop as we move forward.’
