NOT many professional footballers can say that they've loved the college expertise - and turn into a solicitor.
However one former participant has now been there and completed that.
And consequently he's now a having fun with a completely completely different lease of life to when he was one of many stars of English soccer.
The 55-year-old, who's a Premier League winner, studied French, criminology and regulation on the College of Central Lancashire when he retired on the age of 34 in 2002.
And he hasn't regarded again since.
That participant is, in fact, former Blackburn Rovers star Stuart Ripley.
Ripley shot to stardom within the late Eighties whereas enjoying for Middlesbrough.
In 1992 he joined Blackburn for a then-record switch charge of £1.3million.
He made 212 appearances for the Blue and Whites, scoring 14 targets and aiding 34.
The winger additionally helped his crew to the Premier League title in 1995, beating the likes of Manchester United, Liverpool and Arsenal to the trophy.
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Throughout his time at Ewood Park, Ripley's spectacular kind earned him a spot within the England squad, though he made simply two senior appearances.
He joined Southampton in 1998 and spent mortgage spells with Barnsley and Sheffield Wednesday respectively earlier than retiring.
After hanging up his boots, Ripley enroled on the College of Central Lancashire to be able to start pursuing a special profession.
And in 2010 he grew to become a solicitor after finding out French, criminology and regulation.
When talking to The Guardian, Ripley mentioned: "The one factor I knew I needed to do once I retired was to go to school.
"I obtained 9 O-levels after which joined Middlesbrough at 16, in order that choice was taken away. I used to be within the first crew at 17 and life was taking good care of itself.
"I received the Premier League and represented my nation, however once I retired at 34, I felt I’d missed out by not going to school. So, after taking a little bit of day trip, I enrolled on the College of Central Lancashire.
"My first intention was to do a international languages diploma, however that meant a 12 months overseas and I couldn’t simply up and depart; by then, the children had been in class. So I ended up on a mixed course: French, criminology and regulation."
He additionally admitted that he wanted to seek out one other purpose after retiring, including: "Soccer’s not actual life, and for those who do transfer away from it, you get a special perspective and a special grasp on issues.
"The rhythm of your life adjustments utterly. If you’re enjoying, you’ve obtained two doubtlessly very huge highs inside per week – you play on a Tuesday or Wednesday after which on the weekend.
"That’s an enormous adrenaline rush. If you retire, that’s very tough to exchange. You’ve obtained to seek out one other purpose in life."
Regardless of his distinctive new profession, Ripley nonetheless has a robust hyperlink to soccer.
His son, Connor, 30, presently performs for League One membership Morecambe.
The goalkeeper has made 33 appearances for the Shrimps thus far this season after becoming a member of the membership final summer season.
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