4th January 2022
By Adam Holt
Some may assume that the majority of footballer’s lives are comfortable a comfortable one. This is not the case. The majority of players find themselves on the lower rungs of the English Football ladder where life is much more difficult and it is full of challenges.
Michael Kelly is an ex-Leicester City academy player, who currently plays for fifth tier Eastleigh gave his perspective on the experiences of being a lower league footballer and on what he finds most challenging about playing at this level, he said: “I would say the hardest challenge for lower league players is the instability surrounding contracts at this level.
“In the National League you’re looking at a one or two year deal and if you’re very lucky you may get a 3 year deal if the club sees opportunity to make profit from you by selling you on. The question of where the next deal is or where it’s going to come from.
“Being released from a Premier League academy is the biggest challenge I’ve faced; I was 18 and didn’t have much or any knowledge or experience and really struggled to find a pathway into the game.”
David Fitzpatrick, who currently plays his football for National League club Altrincham, reveals another issue that faces players at the lower levels of the game.
He said: “Moving clubs is always tough. New teammates, new surroundings and new ambitions. You do find a lot of lower league players moving from club to club, but I just think that comes with the insecurities of short term contracts. I’ve only played for 4 teams over the last decade, so I’ve not done too badly.”
Former Bolton Wanderers full back Joe Riley shared his experiences of lower league football, he said: “The biggest challenge facing lower league footballers these days is probably the uncertainty. With the pandemic, it’s difficult to get lengthy contracts as clubs are trying to protect themselves.
“You can never really be in a set location. You can obviously try and play for local clubs that you can travel to. Fortunately, most clubs give out relocation money so that when you do relocate you are entitled to money to get you settled and can help to pay your rent for the first few months.
“You’re always looking over your shoulder and wondering whether you’re going to have to move again which is never nice, especially if you’ve got a wife and kids. It can be quite difficult, you never know if you are going to have to move four or five hours away.”
Michael Kelly is an ex-Leicester City academy player, who currently plays for fifth tier Eastleigh gave his perspective on the experiences of being a lower league footballer and on what he finds most challenging about playing at this level, he said: “I would say the hardest challenge for lower league players is the instability surrounding contracts at this level.
“In the National League you’re looking at a one or two year deal and if you’re very lucky you may get a 3 year deal if the club sees opportunity to make profit from you by selling you on. The question of where the next deal is or where it’s going to come from.
“Being released from a Premier League academy is the biggest challenge I’ve faced; I was 18 and didn’t have much or any knowledge or experience and really struggled to find a pathway into the game.”
David Fitzpatrick, who currently plays his football for National League club Altrincham, reveals another issue that faces players at the lower levels of the game.
He said: “Moving clubs is always tough. New teammates, new surroundings and new ambitions. You do find a lot of lower league players moving from club to club, but I just think that comes with the insecurities of short term contracts. I’ve only played for 4 teams over the last decade, so I’ve not done too badly.”
Former Bolton Wanderers full back Joe Riley shared his experiences of lower league football, he said: “The biggest challenge facing lower league footballers these days is probably the uncertainty. With the pandemic, it’s difficult to get lengthy contracts as clubs are trying to protect themselves.
“You can never really be in a set location. You can obviously try and play for local clubs that you can travel to. Fortunately, most clubs give out relocation money so that when you do relocate you are entitled to money to get you settled and can help to pay your rent for the first few months.
“You’re always looking over your shoulder and wondering whether you’re going to have to move again which is never nice, especially if you’ve got a wife and kids. It can be quite difficult, you never know if you are going to have to move four or five hours away.”