Where Are They Now is designed for you if you are a football fan who is as curious as us to find out what happened to your favourite footballers after they retired from playing.
Have you ever wondered what happened to all of those players that you have seen come and go over the years? The heroes and the villains? The saints and the sinners? The stars that you talked about for years after they had retired and those you instantly forgot?
If so, Where Are They Now? is definitely for you!
Not all players end up running pubs or become TV pundits! It's no secret what Gary Lineker is up to these days but what about the many thousands of players who have slipped from public view? The first edition of "Where Are They Now?" uncovered some fascinating post football stories including the former Arsenal striker who became Iceland's Finance Minister; Millionaires; Bankrupts; Vicars; Comedians; Singers; a Phil Collins lookalike... and one or two publicans!
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Updated: 10-09-19 Alan J Nunn
I moved to Cornwall from Tottenham in 1969. I have been a Spurs supporter since 1945/46, went to School opposite the Park Lane gates and lived just 500 yards from the ground. With our son who was wanting his first football boots, we went to Briggs Shoes in St Austell and the lady who served us, said "my brother played for Spurs". None other than Charlie Rundle whom I had watched play many times for the reserves and then first team matches. I was at that time only 12, but always had a bit of excitement seeing Charlie heading for goal. He was with Spurs from 1946 to 1950.
Updated: 10-09-19 sabrina khan
He is doing teaching.
Updated: 10-09-19 John Reed
A brilliant player for Chelsea at the back. A cool head under pressure. ..and not one to just boot the ball away ...but found other team mates with his accurate passing. It was a pleasure watching him play.
Updated: 10-09-19 Ted Leader
I knew Alan when we were kids. He lived opposite me in Ernest road Canning Town (street not there anymore). I last saw him cutting the grass alongside the cemetery by the sewers hill, at Plaistow, when we were about 18. I think he was involved with football then. I was not surprised that Alan took up football, that's all he wanted to play, if he had the choice, when we were kids. I can't remember him being without a tennis ball in his pocket. "Ready for the off". He was a really nice kid in those days and judging by the comments here he grew up just the same. I had a look at this site just to remind me. Best Wishes to his family.
Updated: 10-09-19 Martin Weedon
Used flip an old penny in the air and catch it on his foot, flip it again and catch it on his knee. Flip it again and catch it on the back of his neck. Finally flip it again and catch it in the top pocket of his jacket.
Updated: 10-09-19 Gray, F
(This is not strictly a Dickie Rooks memory but I thought I would share it.) In 1965 when I was 13, I had a football pen pal who lived in Sunderland (I live in Edinburgh.) He invited me down for the Easter weekend to see Sunderland play Wolverhampton Wanderers and then Birmingham City on consecutive days at the old Roker Park. That was in the days when footballers were not cosseted and were capable of playing 3 games in 4 days. After the Birmingham match my friend said we should hang around outside the players' entrance and get some autographs. There were plenty of other boys there with the same idea. When the players did come out they were immediately surrounded. I got a few signatures and moved on to join the next group. I thought I recognised Dickie Rooks, the Sunderland reserve centre-half, from his fair, receding hairline. I said “will you sign please Dickie” several times. A boy next to me said something I could not make out. I carried on pleading “will you sign please Dickie” before the boy next to me said slowly “it’s John Schofield, the Birmingham goalkeeper, not Dickie Rooks.”
Updated: 10-09-19 Lionel Toon
To Trev or Christine, Please get in touch - one of you or either of you. 00353 872817628. Please...
Updated: 10-09-19 Geoff Knappett
I was brought up in Southampton next door but one to Jimmy's mum, Daisy. I am 12 years younger than Jimmy and only saw him play in his later years in his second spell at Torquay. A lovely man.
Updated: 10-09-19 Lawrie Woodley
Alan lived on the same housing estate in Shrewsbury as me and was very approachable when could have been very self important. The fact that he succeeded a previous school mate of mine, Maurice Evans, as manager enabled me to have some rapport with Alan. I hope he’s keeping well in his 70’s.
Updated: 02-09-19 Kevin Cannon
Keith was announced as First Team Manager of Aveley FC in the Isthmian League North Division on Thurs 29th August 2019
When we researched the first printed edition of 'Where Are They Now?' in the 1990's, footballers were already incredibly well paid by conventional employment standards but prior to that, players had to find a new career once they had hung up their boots.
This meant that we unearthed plenty of interesting and un-expected stories, many of which are found on the site. Sadly, there were some we could not re-produce for legal reasons - sorry!
Playing professional football, particularly at the highest level should ensure that modern players should not have to worry about money for the rest of their lives. Thankfully, this has not limited the number of fascinating tales for us to tell. For example, were you aware that former Sheffield United midfielder Curtis Woodhouse became British light welterweight champion when he took up professional boxing, having apparently 'fallen out of love' with football? If the rumours are true, he was not just a winner in the ring! At one point, he was considered to be 50 to 1 outsider to win the title and a successful £5,000 scooped him a cool £250,000 when he defeated defending champion Darren Hamilton.
As well as our regular club based pages, we also occasionally add more detailed player pages and would welcome your feedback. See: Roy Bentley, Trevor Francis, Gavin Peacock, Carlos Valderrama, Graham Potter and a look back at some of the best strikers to grace English football.
If you know of any other stories that may interest fellow fans, please do let us know.