Although it’s hugely frustrating that as a result of the coronavirus lockdown footballers are currently unable to do the one thing they want to do most — play football. Now, however, is the perfect time for players to put things in place in order to develop off the pitch in preparation for their next steps once their footballing career is over. Matthew Reilly, a 19-year-old who rose through the ranks at St Mirren, is well ahead of the curve in this sense, getting an initial taster in the world of finance.
“It’s very important to have interests out-with football as you never know what can happen,” said the left winger.
“All it takes is one thing to go wrong or a bad injury and your career can be turned upside down. Also, there are very few footballers that can secure a living from their short career, and there are many years after football which people seem to forget about. Having interests out-with football also provides a switch off from what can be a mentally demanding career.”
Just over a year ago, Matthew,who left school in 2017 with four A-graded Highers, signed up to get involved with the Chartered Institute for Securities and Investment (CISI), something he feels he has reaped the benefits from.
“I’ve always wanted to make the most of my time and since footballers have a lot of spare time, I didn’t want to put that to waste. I got involved with the CISI not long after I left school after an advisor said it would be really worthwhile if I wanted to be productive and learn more about finance. The CISI enables me to show to the finance sector as well as the wider public that I’m committed to professionalism and provide a platform for me to learn, sit exams and collect CPD hours.”
Matthew also suggests however that it is not only him who he feels is suited to the world of finance, many footballers and professional sportspeople would thrive in the competitive environment.
“In finance you need to be extremely professional, switched on and also driven because there are a lot of people who want to get involved in this competitive sector. Also, like most things, there will be several ups and downs. You need to take risks, but just like football you need to prepare as much as possible so you can increase your chances of success.”
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