Coventry City's Ricoh Arena welcomes the Fiat Professional Tradesman launch as the competition looks to find the next tradesman professional footballer...
Fiat Professional, official car partner of The Football League, has today launched the Fiat Professional Tradesman Trials at the Ricoh Arena, a nationwide search to find a current tradesman who may have the talent to make it as a professional footballer in The Football League.
Winning tradesman will receive a one month trial at a Football League club with the opportunity of realising their dream of becoming a professional football player.
The move from the trades to professional football is a well-trodden path with a long list of past and present players starting out as tradesmen, including current Southampton striker, Charlie Austin who was a builder before he became a prolific Football League goalscorer with Swindon Town, Burnley and Queens Park Rangers.
Likewise, former Peterborough United, Wigan Athletic and Fulham midfielder, Jimmy Bullard worked for his father’s painting and decorating company before he hit the big time.
Tradesmen who think they’ve got what it takes to win the one month trial at a Football League club have until 12th June to showcase their skills by submitting videos of their footballing talent to www.tradesmantrials.co.uk
The best entries will then be invited to attend an exclusive Tradesman Trials day, in association with The Football League that will take place by the end of June, where they will be put through their paces in front of a selection of scouts and Fiat Professional’s football ambassadors. The winner will then select his preferred club from those signed up to the campaign* and receive a £2,000 prize.
Stuart Pearce played for the Sky Blues between 1983-85 under the infamous Bobby Gould, before his move to Nottingham Forest. The ex-England international made 52 appearances in a City shirt, scoring four goals.
Stuart Pearce comments: “When I first moved to Nottingham Forest from Coventry I advertised in the matchday programme to get some extra income. I eventually stopped trading but Brian Clough never stopped bringing in his broken irons, toasters and kettles into the training ground for me to rewire!”
Visit: www.tradesmantrials.co.uk to enter.