Following the first of ten club visits for the inaugural PFA A-League Inductions Wellington Phoenix goalkeeper Glen Moss shares with the PFA his thoughts on the initiative and the impact it could have on the lives of players on and off the pitch..
You have just been part of the PFA’s first ever Induction, how did you find the day?
GM:I thought it was fantastic. The concept of getting a number of speakers in and spending a good amount of time with the boys as well is great because it means we are able to interact with people in a range of fields and get to pick their brains a little bit.
Q. Do you think this could become an important part of players’ pre-season preparations?
GM:I think the timing is great. Being in pre-season you have a bit more time on your hands and you don’t want to go into the season worrying about things or not having a clear idea.
Q . How important is feeling comfortable and aware of the services you can access as a player in getting you ready for the season to come?
GM: I think it is crucial. I was part of the old NSL and never did anything like this. By having programs like this we are able to get the most out of our careers on and off the pitch. As you get older you realise just how important that off field support is, and it can have a major impact on your career.
Q. We covered a lot of topics today from mental health and wellbeing to gambling and social media, was there anything that really stood out for you?
GM: I think it was all well covered with a wide range of topics. For me moving towards the end of my career the financial advice and career after football advice was good and it gave me a few more connections that I can tap into to prepare for life after football.
Q. How much importance do the players place on initiatives such as inductions and the Player Development and Wellbeing Program?
GM: There is a lot of interest in it. We get a lot of questions from the younger boys about where they can seek help and advice on things. Days like today are great because it gets people in the room who can help them answer a lot of the questions they have. I would have loved to have been a young player sitting through one of these.
Q. What effect would have days like today had on you when you were first emerging into professional football?
GM: I have been racking my brain for the last 10 years trying to work out what I wanted to do after football. I have tried a number of education courses and kind of worked out they were not for me.
It is only up until recently at the age of 31 that I have a clearer idea. I’m lucky that here at the Phoenix we have a great PDM (Player Development Manager) in Helen and she has been great and helped with a number of options. Inductions will help players to make the most of their career and the time they have available so they can make the best to decisions to get the most of their football careers and after it is over.