Life After Swansea

Almost four months ago, a period of Roger Freestone’s life that bagan back in 1991 ended when Kenny Jackett decided not to extend the Vetch Field stay of a man that had rightly earned the ‘legend’ tag amongst the Swansea support. Roger Freestone woke up that next day in May no longer a professional footballer and faced the decision on what direction his life was to take next.

Football was all that Freestone, now 36, had known and Swansea City had been the major part in that career. He was not short of offers but a return to Newport County was sealed soon after on a part time basis. Roger had gone back home football wise to where it all began in the 1980s. But part time football two leagues lower than the football league is not going to pay the wages with two children in the house so further employment was needed and this was to take Roger outside football for the first time in his adult life.

A franchise with DHL seemed to be the number one choice on his list as he seriously contemplated the 5am starts that come with such a job and endless driving around the Gwent area was the prospect that he faced until he received a phone call from Paul Abbandonato with an offer that, as it turned out, he could not refuse.

Paul had been contacted by Chris Pitson who was aware of a vacancy as a trainee financial adviser with a firm based in Cardiff Bay. The firm, run by Swans fans Ian Crocker and Chris Powell Thomas wanted Roger to come on board and learn himself a new trade with a different type of savings in mind to that to which we normally associate Freestone.

And so, maybe appropriately on 1st July, Roger became officially known as a trainee financial adviser. And we move into today, two months into the job as I travel into the nation’s capital to meet the man that I watched hundreds of times from the terraces. It does seem strange driving into Cardiff to see Roger but it could have been worse – I suppose I could have come off the link road at Ninian Park but Roger would never do that to us!

Ethical Financial’s offices are based in Mount Stuart Square, a long (straight!) goal kick from the Welsh Assembly Building and six floors up with a view over the city just a flight of stairs away – the still impressive Millennium Stadium clearly in view. Roger tells me “From something that could be physically tiring, this is mentally challenging. Being a trainee financial adviser means plenty of exams, observation and thought” not something that your average professional footballer would class highly on their skills list. “I don’t give the advice at the moment but I do watch others doing it and when I qualify then it will be me in front of the clients assessing their financial needs.

“I was all set to do the DHL role when I got the call from Paul and I decided that this was the best option in front of me to continue playing and earn a living for myself and the family.

“On my first day I completed a financial fact find for myself – took me four hours, form filling is not one of my best assets at the moment. With this job I can combine my football committments with Newport which is what I need to do at the moment.

“We train Mondays and Thursdays and of course we have the matches on Saturday which makes for a long and tiring week but needs must and all that.

“I only tend to work until around 2pm on the days that we train and then have an hour or two at home before training starts. The work in itself is less pressurised than professional football but I still put the pressure on myself to succeed as I always do.

“In terms of Newport, the supporters have been great and welcomed me back at the club. Peter (Nicholas) has put together a great bunch of players, a mix of experience and youth and although we have had an indifferent start to the season we are hoping to push up the league over the coming months. We are two divisions away from the football league but in sides like Weymouth and Hornchurch we have ambitious clubs who have money and we are under no illusions – this will be a tough division to get of. I think we will be there or therabouts come the end of the season and I hope not to let in four too often! (Newport found themselves on the wrong end of a 4-2 scoreline on Bank Holiday Monday)”

But surely after thirteen years at one place, Roger must still keep one eye on how the Swans are performing? “Of course I do. I check your site several times a day – I never used to look when I was at the club but now I am away from it I have to see what is going on.

“I also speak to Thommo and Kris (O’Leary) on a regular basis and have spoken to Jackie Rockey on the odd occasion as well. I know what is going on at the club and yes of course I have a look for the result on a Saturday afternoon. I can’t say that I miss the daily grind but I do miss the fans and the atmosphere of playing at the Vetch. And the matchday staff like Myra, Eddie, Vaughan and the others. It was good times at Swansea and after that long of course you will miss the people that you have grown old(er) with!

“I’m still sad that I didn’t get the chance to say goodbye but life moves on and here I am”

Roger hasn’t changed one bit in his three months away from the Vetch. The surroundings may have and the number 1 shirt has been replaced by a shirt and tie but this is still Roger Freestone and as he surveys his new surroundings you just know that he will make a success of his new role as much as he made a success of his old one.

You can talk to Ethical Financial for financial advice by calling them on (02920) 490763 or via e-mail by clicking