As we look back at last year’s event at St. George’s Park, watch Oldham Athletic defenders Tomos Jones and Joe Cooper both give ‘Create Your Legacy’ a unanimous thumbs.
While Jones was released by the Latics in May and is now on a soccer scholarship in the USA, something from the day must have resonated with his defensive colleague Cooper.
The teenage central defender who made his debut for League One Oldham last April against Shrewsbury turned his back on a career as a footballer to fulfil his dream – of studying economics.
And Joe admitted that his decision to swap Boundary Park to become a student at Leeds Metropolitan University may baffle some fans.
“From the outside looking in a lot of people think football is glamorous but from the inside it is quite different.”
“There are major highs but at the same time there are some quite big lows and it is hard to balance the two.”
Joe, who eventually wants to run his own business confirmed that he had taken advice from Leeds United’s Matt Smith a former Oldham team-mate before making his mind up.
He said: “I spoke to Matt who told me all about university and what to expect. My friends were shocked at first but they understand.
“They said it took a lot of courage and who knows – I could be back in the game one day.”
