This week I have reached the career threshold that all footballers dread. I have turned 30.
There is no getting away from it, and from a personal point of view it has given me a chance to reflect on my career.
On more than one occasion, I was more than a little sceptical as to whether I would still be involved in the game when I got to 30. So from that perspective I am pleased to say that I have achieved this.
Where did the time go (see I already sound like an old man!)?
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Hi hope you are all well.
I am lucky enough to be in a profession whereby I can honestly say there are not many aspects of the job that I do not enjoy. However, I have to confess that one of the things that I am looking forward to when I hang up my boots is a "proper" family Christmas.
Don't get me wrong, I am fully aware that the Christmas schedule is a key one in the football calendar and ultimately helps to pay for the presents that are being opened by the kids, so I am not looking for pity or being ungrateful.
However I can't help but fire some envious glances at other members of the family who are tucking into their Christmas dinner while I am picking at my pasta dish!
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departure from Sunderland has again raised the question of whether great players make great managers.
I think it is safe to say that there is no guarantee of anyone who has played the game to the highest standards being successful as managers and, indeed, there have been plenty of examples of such figures being overshadowed in the job by men whose own professional playing careers were more modest, if not virtually non-existent.
For someone like me, who has certainly not been a great player, that is quite a comforting thought!
Having said that, I am uncertain about whether I would like to pursue a career in management. Even though I am taking my coaching badges and genuinely enjoy coaching, I am not convinced that I have the personality needed to be a manager.
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Hi, hope you are all well.
I have been fascinated to read recently that . This attempt to make sure their players get the proper rest is a further example of how the top clubs are leaving no stone unturned in their search for perfection.
Plenty of the that are used by the Premier League clubs to get the best out of their teams have slowly trickled down into but the sleep side of things is something that I have never known to be addressed in any depth before.
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Hello, I'm Gavin Strachan. I describe myself as a "journeyman" player after 13 years in the game as a professional. I'm currently between clubs, having been released by Notts County. I'm also studying journalism and the aim of my blog is to provide an insight into the life of a footballer.
Here are some 