GPA SAVED ME SAYS PARSONS
NEW Gaelic Players Association chief Tom Parsons admits he experienced ‘the good, the bad and the ugly’ as a Mayo player.
The big midfielder ( below) called it quits last January and was appointed chief executive of the GPA in May.
His first official act was to confirm the players union and Cliona’s Foundation have teamed up as part of an official charity agreement.
It’s hoped to raise 100,000 to support vulnerable families with seriously sick child.
Parsons said that between the partnership and the recent decision to amalgamate with the WGPA, it’s been a productive period.
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Charlestown man revealed why he agreed to step into the CEO role vacated by ex-Dublin footballer Paul Flynn.
He said that while he competed in All-Ireland finals and won Connacht medals, there was also a devastating knee injury in 2018 and another difficult period early in his career, when the GPA intervened.
“The reason I’m so excited about what I’m doing is because I’ve probably lived and breathed all the highs and lows, the good, the bad and the ugly as a player, and the GPA has been there every step of the way,” Parsons said.
“When I really needed the association was probably when I was 22.
“I had experienced three or four years playing with Mayo; I think I recall playing 36 months in a row, balancing inter- county senior football, I was captain of the U-21s, I was playing with the International Rules, I was playing Sigerson and then I picked up a chronic groin injury.
“My performances dipped and I was deselected from the Mayo squad at 22.
“I went from having five or six teams within the Gaelic family down to being associated with my club, who were relegated from being county champions down to intermediate.
“So my whole selfidentity and self- esteem was really on the floor.
“That’s when the GPA stepped in. “They stepped in and helped develop me as a person, to find my own career.
“That’s why I’m really passionate about their work because when I put my hand up this year to retire, I was able to retire on my terms in terms of my life is rich, I was working with a Fortune 500 company, I’m a very qualified professional, I have a family, an 18-month- old baby boy.
“I have opportunities and balance in my life.
“I put my hand up to be in this position now because I want other players to experience that.”
“It’s a huge bonus to play inter- county football and there’s huge highs and huge opportunity but in another way the fundamentals of thriving in life are challenged because you don’t have the time to invest in things outside of sport.”