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Footballer now studying journalism eyes new press career

richard-woodA professional footballer and regional daily columnist is eyeing a full-time career in journalism after retiring from the sport.

Rotherham United player Richard Wood has spoken of his hopes to become a journalist in his weekly column for The Star, Sheffield.

Richard is currently studying for a degree in sports journalism and PR thanks to a distance learning degree which is run by the Professional Footballers’ Assocation in conjunction with Staffordshire University.

In a recent column for The Star, Richard said footballers need a “plan B” given the relatively short career-span offered by the sport.

He wrote: “All players need to realise that their football career will come to an end at some point ,and that is why I decided to enrol on a university degree last year in sports journalism and PR.

Richard continued: “It’s been a great experience so far and I’ve got to see how the media works around football, which, as a professional footballer, you don’t really take notice of.

“When I’m listening to footballers being interviewed, I’m now taking notice of the questions asked rather than the answers. I’ve just completed work experience with the media team at Rotherham United, where I got to write for the matchday programme and club website among other tasks I undertook.

“The weekly column in the Sheffield Star is another opportunity that arose as a result of me undertaking this degree. I’m enjoying airing my opinions and views on various topics in football and also sharing stories and anecdotes from my career.

“I would love to stay in the game once I retire, be that as a coach, media pundit or journalist, but the journalism degree might open other avenues for me such as qualifying to be a teacher.

“I’m looking forward to seeing what route this course will lead me down, but at the moment, though, I just want to concentrate fully on my playing career while balancing that with my degree work and graduating.”