Ex-footballer forced into early retirement and became pilot after major injury

06 March 2023 , 08:54

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Richard Kell is now a pilot having retired at 27

Former Middlesbrough player Richard Kell called time on his career at the age of 27 - but knew exactly what life after football looked like.

Now 43, he has turned his hand to being a pilot having begun his preparations during an injury lay off twenty years ago. Kell spent time on the treatment table whilst playing for Scunthorpe and begun learning how to fly a plane.

His career saw him play across the football league for the likes of the Irons, Torquay, Barnsley and Lincoln. He played in the majority of games as Scunthorpe won League Two in 2005, but by 2007 he'd left the game for food after a double leg fracture.

He revealed in 2016: "I had just recovered from my first broken leg and felt I was struggling to get back to full fitness at Scunthorpe. I was on a month to month contract and whilst waiting in the airport for a pre-season tour to Ireland I got talking to a pilot who was sat next to me.

"On my return I went to my nearest airport (Humberside) to make my initial enquiries. I had completed about 10-15 hours training, however my fitness returned, I signed a new contract and my pilots training was put on the ‘back burner’ for a time. Fortunately I was able to keep returning to my training at different times in my playing career."

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After he was forced to retire early Kell received a lump sum from the PFA, which he put towards his aviation qualifications. The former players admits the conventional route would've been to go into coaching or management, but is thrilled by his career decision.

Richard Kell claimed League Two glory with Scunthorpe during his playing days (Getty Images)

He added: “When I retired I put all my money into finishing my private licence off and going from one thing to the next; commercial licence, ground school etc. After I retired I received some insurance money and I thought I would never lay my hands on that sort of cash again so, rather than put an extension on my house or something like that, I thought ‘this is my career so let’s do something with it’.

“Aviation will last you up until you’re 60-65 years old so it’s a long-term investment. Footballers can get funnelled down the path of coaching or management but there is a lot more out there and it’s worked out really well for me.”

Kell regarded himself as an analytical player who was more than happy to critique his performances and those traits have stayed with him at 35,000 feet.

"Rather like being a footballer I always want to do the job to the best of my ability," he said. "I still sometimes think about my performance on the way home and how I can do my job better the next time."

Samuel Meade