(By Steve Blatherwick)

Life moves on, as they say, but to be honest it has been much tougher than I expected. I miss many aspects of the game, the camaraderie, match days but most of all I miss heading the ball! Yes strange, I know, but that feeling of jumping and beating my opponent to "bosh" the ball is something I really miss. Anyway I will get some psychological help with that one. :-)

So what have I been doing since I packed up. Well I wanted to stay in sport in some way and I am particularly interested in fitness and nutrition so I enrolled on a course to train as a Personal Trainer and Nutritionist. The course is normally takes two years but professional sportsmen can go on a four month fast-track which was partially paid for by the PFA.  The amount of study was unbelievable but I really enjoyed the course and am proud to say that I passed all 12 exams first time so I am now a qualified as a level 3 Personal Trainer, Nutritionist and Sports Therapist.

I am now looking at several ideas for "earning a living in the real world", as my old man says. I have started to put together a plan for delivering specialist training for amateur footballers. It's like circuit training but all focused toward the speed, agility and quickness required for football. I hope to also pass on some of the knowledge I have picked up over the years form people like Brian Clough, Roy McFarland and Stuart Pearce to help players realise their potential and improve their game at whatever level they are playing.

I have really enjoyed getting involved in the organization of my testimonial and I am learning a lot from the people who have volunteered their services and expertise. My eldest brother, Michael, is my testimonial Chairman and he has put together a great committee made up of the following shrewd businessmen and die hard Chessy fans:

• Phil Tooley, former Chairman of CFSS.
• Dean Newman, Managing Director of Printability 2000.
• Santi Perez, Sales Director of Global Brands (VK Vodka).
• John Norman - Lifelong Chesterfield fan and Director of Taxation with accountants BDO Stoy Hayward.
• Mike Bacon - Runs MVB Communications who design and produce the Chesterfield Match Day programmes.
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I would like to take this opportunity to thank them all for their efforts and friendship

TO FIND OUT MORE  VISIT STEVE'S OWN WEBSITE HERE