Robbie takes a leaf from his own book
ADJUSTING to ‘real life’ after retiring from football can be a daunting prospect for many players. How do you replace that buzz, the thrill of competition, the highs and lows, the adrenaline running through your veins?
The problem is that those who make it in professional sport have often put all their efforts into doing just that. It’s all they’ve known and, suddenly, for one reason or another, it’s taken away from them.
The danger is that it can lead to a loss of esteem, financial woes and a variety of mental health problems.
It’s a subject close to the heart of new Chelmsford City player-manager Robbie Simpson. That was why he set up Life After Professional Sport (LAPS) three years ago. He’s describes it as an online career resource platform for sports people.
With the coronavirus crisis bringing sport to a standstill, it could be the ideal opportunity for those with more time on their hands than usual to think about their future.
“We offer career guidance, CV writing, interview techniques,” he said. “We also scour the country and find what careers sports people go into when they retire.
“We do video interviews with them on how they made the transition, what their career is like now, what they have taken from their sporting career into it. We hope that gives inspiration to our current members.
“It’s members only, but membership is free and we also have career opportunities via our job board.
“It was designed to be just an on-line platform, but we now run member meetings and we also go into Premier League and Football League clubs to give workshops to their under-18s and under-23s about preparing for the future.
“It’s evolving all the time and with the coronavirus now, we are about to launch some webinars that people can log on to and watch at home.”
Opportunity
It’s clearly a passion for Simpson – and he admits that he’s now taking his own advice on board.
He helped MK Dons to promotion from League Two last season, but his hopes of playing for them in the third tier this term gradually subsided.
“I wanted to play another season in the League and stay with MK Dons,” he admitted. “We had a great season, got promoted and I felt I played a big part in that.
“I was in talks with them about potentially signing all summer, but it dragged on and I eventually realised it wasn’t going to happen.
“I thought about signing for another club but it didn’t appeal so, at 34, I thought it was a good time to drop down to parttime and focus on starting my next career which I will do for the next 30 or 40 years.
“I’m taking my own advice from LAPS and preparing for the future, trying to make the transition as easy as possible. I always talk about taking control of your own future, so it’s only right I do that.
“Last week, I fully qualified as a financial advisor and that’s the plan for my long-term career. It ties into the work with my company LAPS as well.”
Simpson is no stranger to Non-League. After being let go by Norwich, he learned his trade at both Cambridge clubs, City and United, before making his big move into the Football League with Coventry, then in the Championship, in 2007.
While playing in NonLeague, he also earned a degree in sports science and mathematics at Loughborough University.
The combination of football and education was one of the factors that made joining Chelmsford last summer an attractive one.
As well as playing for the
Clarets, he’s been heavily involved in setting up their new academy.
He said: “I loved my route into football, but that’s pretty much non-existent these days. For another kid not to be able to go down that route was an upsetting thought.
“Chelmsford want to do it properly. It’s not a numbers game to generate income, it’s about giving youngsters the opportunity on the pitch as high as possible, but also looking after them off the pitch.
Momentum
“We are pretty much there with the academy now – we are ready to go from next year, everything is in place. We’ve got a partnership with a local school so that we can offer A levels and BTECs.”
With academy matters in hand, Simpson can focus on Chelmsford’s fortunes on the pitch when football resumes.
He took the reins when Rod Stringer was axed at the end of January and was appointed permanently ten days ago after impressing the Clarets board.
Last Saturday’s 3-0 defeat at Dartford was a blow, but the Essex outfit, currently tenth, do still have a shot at reaching the play-offs.
“Everyone around the league will think we have underachieved this season so far and I would agree with them,” said Simpson, who turned 35 last Sunday and also featured for Huddersfield, Oldham, Leyton Orient and Exeter City.
“However, it’s not over yet – we are six points off the playofffs with a game in hand, though some others have a game in hand on us.
“We have eight games left and we haven’t given up on the season. We will be trying to get as many wins as possible.
“I’ve often seen in my career a team that comes late and sneaks into the play-offs. They then have the momentum to win them.”
As for whether he will pick himself, Simpson is reluctant, though won’t rule it out.
“I will consider myself, but I don’t think I’ll be in the forefront for the starting XI,” he admitted. “I’ve been on the bench in the last two games and haven’t come on, but why limit my options?”
It’s clear there’s plenty going on in Simpson’s life even without football on the pitch at present.
The birth of daughter Rosie 11 weeks ago has added an extra layer of responsibility.
“Life’s been very, very busy, it’s been tough, I’m not going to lie!” he added. “It’s a new experience, but she’s been as good as gold. Touch wood, she’s been sleeping well and my wife, Nicola, has been brilliant.
“She’s on maternity leave and she’s coping really well. It allows me to pursue these other things.
“Life is definitely changing.”