BELL RINGS IN NEW CAREER... Fergus keen to advise others
FERGUS Bell knows the crushing reality of being told your football career is over at just 24 – but now he’s desperate to help others who experience the same anguish.
The Wandsworth-born midfielder’s football life was like no other. He started at Hibernian before spells in Spain, Belgium and Italy. He then returned home to play for Mansfield, Yeovil and Torquay.
A torn patellar tendon during just his second appearance for Yeovil in 2015, a 5-1 defeat at MK Dons, ultimately put paid to his footballing career, leaving Bell without work.
Thankfully, the 26-year-old had other irons in the fire.
Following help from the Professional Footballers’ Association, Bell set up a property business, Fifty Two Group, alongside business partner Daniel Gibson.
And, having enjoyed two successful years away from football, Bell has urged professionals to start planning for their future long before they hang up their boots.
“It’s a rubbish time when falling out of football and you’ve got bills to pay,” he said.
“When players come out of football, you’re so used to that huge scale of emotional ups and downs that other stuff doesn’t seem as appealing or interesting.
“You see some players going down the route of trying to replicate that emotional level by boozing or gambling, or going down paths which are detrimental to their health.
“A lot of the time, players just float until they fall into something. You shouldn’t finish football and then think about what you have to do. You need to think about it three or four years before the end of your career.
“I’ve been contacted by players and I’ve given them advice on a business aspect.
“I would love to do something with the PFA to help players coming out of football.
“For those coming out of the lower leagues, it is vitally important they think about the next 20 years of their working life.”
Bell moved from the Hibs academy to Spanish fourth-tier side Jerez Industrial in 2010 after the club linked up with the Glenn Hoddle Academy.
A host of talented English players, including Swansea’s Sam Clucas, travelled to southern Spain, where Bell thrived, making 36 league appearances and scoring seven goals in his one full season.
The midfielder then signed an 18-month deal at Belgian side Mechelen and believes it was brilliant to sample different playing styles so early in his career.
Surprised
He said: “My career was as unconventional as you can get, but I thoroughly enjoyed it nonetheless.
“The year before I went out to Spain, I suffered a pretty bad legbreak at Hibs and, when this opportunity came around, it was a great chance to have direct access to top experts in your field and to learn in a brilliant foreign environment.
“The Belgian system in particular surprised me as to the level of coaching and the techniyou’re cal ability of a lot of the younger players. It was very progressive.”
But the footballer-turned-businessman says his favourite place to ply his former trade was at Italian third-tier side Monza, where he spent the 2013-14 season, before moving to Mansfield.
He said: “The Italian coaching was seemingly obsessed with team shape, positioning and defensive play – almost hilariously stereotypical.
“A good three days a week of training would be spent working on shape and pattern play.
“The location was beautiful – the passion of the fans and their flares, and undoubtedly the culture.”
His footballing days might be over but, having planned accordingly, Bell now looks to the future with optimism.
“It has been a funny old ride but I’m thoroughly enjoying life in a different capacity,” he added. “There’s a certain degree of freedom being outside the football world, but you miss the changing room side of things.”