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By fans, for fans. By fans, for fans. By fans, for fans.

Where are they now?

stressederic

By stressederic
in Liverpool FC

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stressederic

stressederic

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Fondly nicknamed Trigger by Liverpool team-mates, Jones' career followed a meteoric rise, but was cut short by injury problems. After starting out at Crewe in the Fourth Division, the right-back was spotted by Graeme Souness and transferred to Liverpool in October 1991. Forty-eight-hours later he made his debut against Manchester United, impressing against Ryan Giggs; four months after that he started for England. That same season Liverpool won the FA Cup. Still only 20 years old, Jones must have felt life couldn't get any better. But injury would plague his career: shin splints forced him to miss Euro 92, he was dogged by back problems in 1996-98, and missed the whole of 1998-99 with a knee injury. Jones was forced to retire that year, aged just 27.

 

Jones now runs a chain of nursery schools in Warrington. www.kids-academy.co.uk

 

What was it like to retire at 27?

 

Very difficult. As an established player for Liverpool and England I never thought it would happen to me. I was gutted for at least six months, sitting around wondering what to do with myself - one day you're in the changing rooms the next day it all stops. I was lucky to have a supportive family to give me a kick up the backside though - they put an end to my moping around.

 

Steve McManaman also helped...

 

At that time I was really down. I couldn't go to Anfield for at least two years, I just couldn't face it. Steve was really supportive, calling me on the phone, inviting me to come and visit him at Real Madrid. He didn't have to do that: he had only just moved clubs, he had a lot of pressure on his shoulders so it was nice that he was thinking of me even then. My wife and I went over to Madrid many times. It took my mind off things seeing how well he was doing. Little things help: anything so that you're not just going to the pub.

 

Did you ever imagine what you would do when you retired?

 

I really never thought about it. Everyone expects footballers to retire and live off their millions... These days they probably could, but if you're bored it doesn't matter how much money you've got.

 

How did the nursery business start?

 

My wife was always interested in childcare and she went to college to learn more about it. At the same time I was looking into property in the area and between us we set up the business. We were very successful - as one of the first nurseries in the area to offer French and computer lessons to kids, one of the nurseries got so big we had 110 kids there a day. We ended up running five nurseries at one stage, but now we've downsized to four.

 

What is the best thing about retiring?

 

Being able to spend time with your kids. As a footballer I missed Christmases and school plays, but now that I run my own business I can be there for them whenever they need me. As you get older you become more mature, you look back and think: 'Oh God I can't believe I did that.' My wife thinks I've got more confidence since I left football. I'm not sure, but it certainly is nice to grow up a bit.

 

Do you miss football now?

 

I don't look back now. People stop me in the street sometimes to ask for an autograph and I'm surprised. I forget I was ever a footballer - it seems such a long time ago now. Some of my old games were on TV the other week and my children were like, 'Oh my God, is that actually you?' They couldn't imagine me playing in front of all those people: they just think of me as dad. I was never into the fame side of things anyway: some players will go to the opening of an envelope, but I'm not interested in going on TV and all that.

 

I've got a different life now. I'm a different person.

 

 

Guardian

Foo

Foo

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