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
Where Are They Now Books
This whole project began with a book entitled 'Where Are They Now? - Life After Soccer'.
This proved to be incredibly popular and led to the formation of this site as well as a number of club specific titles. So far, the series comprises of Manchester United, Chelsea, Portsmouth, Huddersfield Town, Aston Villa and Liverpool. Forthcoming titles include Arsenal, Southampton and West Bromwich Albion - watch this space!
Updated: 24-10-20 Stephanie Flint
We have the 1900 - 1901 cap and marriage certificate of Tommy's as my mums maiden name is Atherton. He is a great great great etc grandad of mine. No memories I'm afraid but would also love to know more about him.Updated: 24-10-20 John Foster
Hi, i believe i am Jack's great grandson. I live in Burlington, Ontario, Canada. My dad, John Foster was born at a house at Spaines Road in Huddersfield, Oct 18, 1935, possibly registered DOB Oct 17, 1935. My grandparents were: John Foster - died 1940 and Vera Foster (Budd). I meet my great grandmother in 1971 living with her grandson Reg Foster(who worked at the ICI in Huddersfield) in Huddersfield not far from the George Hotel in town. Would love to find more info other than about Jack's football career. Thanks.Updated: 24-10-20 John
Alan taught me the basics of football when I was a kid, about 15 years ago. My Friday nights were always spent at the leisure centre in Paignton learning from Alan and his son. Occasionally I'll still bump into him. He is the most genuine, kindest person I have ever met. Always making me smile, even after all these years. I hope all is wellUpdated: 24-10-20 Tom Jenkins
The Murray’s were a footballing family. I played with brothers Bob and Jimmy at Leyton and ClaptonUpdated: 22-10-20 Brian Livie
Bob was the janitor at Damacre School in Brechin during the 1960's and early 1970's when it closed and Bob retired. He was an amiable character who took a keen interest in the boys football development. I believe he had managed the team prior to that and appears in several photographs with them in local historical booksUpdated: 22-10-20 John Cooper
Hi Kieran, I played with your Dad Alex back in the late 70s at Spurs. Your Dad was top man - in charge of the apprentice's I took over from him when he signed professional forms. Your Dad was a good solid full back very reliable. As kids they were great times they really were. We trained often with the first team stars of the day. Not sure how I came to this site and clicked on your Dads photo - but glad I did. Best of luck to you all and regards to your Dad. JCUpdated: 22-10-20 John Maguire
As a Newcastle supporter I saw every home game and several away while Wyn played for us. He was tremendous to watch always value for money. When we won the Fairs Cup it was, in my opinion, due to the fact that foreign defences had never seen his like before. Wyn terrorised those defences and without him we wouldn't have won it. He gave me many hours of pleasure and I always compare every number 9 to the main man, Wyn.Updated: 22-10-20 Brian Livie
Mitch was a wonderful inclusion to what was a struggling Brechin City side in the mid-1970's. He played with panache and had a set piece training ground free kick where he chipped the ball over the opposition wall for an onrushing forward. Didn't always work though. He was a great buoyant character and a regular visitor to the terraces at Glebe Park after he departed. Sadly missed.Updated: 22-10-20 Ged Crawford
Charlie ran The Ashley Pub in New Milton. Such a nice bloke, he was good to talk to especially about football. Sad day when he left, I see he works for Arsenal FC now. Good luck to him.Updated: 21-10-20 June Praties Thomas
I was at Norton Park school and all the Hibs players would sit on the wall which was part of our playground. I fell in love with Peter Marinello. I was only 13 but that was the best part of my school days! I was a Hibs fan like my father.Great memories.
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.
When do you think that the Premier League should re-start?
Where are they now? – Boro players who played League Cup’s season opening game 8 years ago.
If you know of any other stories that may interest fellow fans, please do let us know.