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!
Select Club
Updated: 17-04-19 John Swithinbank
Me and my mate used to gatecrash the odd Latics training session when we were about 15 on 'Little Wembley'. I was in goal and Ray Wilson urged Les on to cross it to my mate by shouting 'Chip it Chappie' to the amusement of all around. Also, who remembers that 'shimmie' by corner flag at the Rochdale Road End in around '66 when he was a mere youth?
Updated: 17-04-19 Jim Fitzpatick
Hi I was raised in the same Street as Alan and at the same time. But did't get to know him, we were up our 'own end' as they use to say. However now I'm a volunteer with Balsall Heath History Society and we are putting together a booklet of 'Stars of Balsall heath`. I have the (nice) job of researching Alan, his career and his connections to BH. The person above who went to school with Alan I would like to hear from, also the guy with the trophy - a family member?
Updated: 17-04-19 davie laing.
Bobby is the only player I am aware of who scored a goal without touching the ball i.e.a superbly convincing dummy that fooled everyone including the keeper.
Updated: 17-04-19 Flossy2507
My mum Mavis Steele went to school with David Layne and Gordon Banks in Tinsley
Updated: 17-04-19 Mark A Duke
After Billy stopped playing he bought a papershop on the high street in Wombwell. I was a paperboy for him for several years and he had lots of great stories from his playing days.
Updated: 17-04-19 Rob Waribg
Great player and amazing Grandfather. Scored on debut like his son Terry. First father and Son to ever score on debut and both play pro football at the same time. Jackie died May 1997 peacefully in the Worcester Royal Hospital.
Updated: 04-02-19
Peter was a member of the Bournemouth Gaworks team that won the Hampshire Senior Cup in 1953/4. This contributed to him earning County honours and a contract with Bournemouth & Boscombe the following year. He played a key role in their promotion in 1961/2 but suffered a series of knee injuries in the years that followed and eventually had to retire as a result.
Updated: 13-02-19 Mick K
Same year as Ryan and played for Radcliffe Town team with him. He played up front and was the fastest kid at my age i have ever seen, knew he would make it as a pro, just surprised it was as a defender. Top guy and it such a shame on hearing of his early retirement.
Updated: 13-02-19 Stan price
When the football season finished John worked with me doing fencing, also Gordon Bolland, both when playing for Millwall
Updated: 13-02-19 Aj
He was born in Northwich Cheshire.
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.