CHELTONIANS OF INTEREST
CheltonianColumnist LloydParsons takes a closer look at CTFC’s U18Academy Manager Pete Haynes
Theworld of professional sport is one of relentless commitment, exacting standards, and also a harsh, cut-throat nature. Thismonthwe bring you the story of one of our very ownCheltonians, Pete Haynes. The former CheltenhamTownFC Academy player and hot prospect, turned CheltenhamTownU18’s Academy Manager all within a seven year roller coaster ride of emotions, work ethic and an ability to seize opportunities even when they’re seemingly not present. I caught up with Pete over a coffee
to chat through his story and understand a little more about where he hascomefromand importantly where he is also taking the futures of young players operating under his tutelage.What catches you when you meet Pete is his extremely polite and softly spoken manner.Whilst Pete doesn’t present themost imposing physical figure, he conducts himself with a deliberate and calculated approach. This calculated approach fits eloquently with the story of how Petecameto CheltenhamTownin the first place. “I played for Churchdown
Panthers with a friend of mine, Chris Hicks. Chris got spotted during a match and was asked to go to Cheltenhamfor a trial and I just got a lift in with him andweturned up together.When I was askedwhoI was, I said to theAcademy Manager I had been scouted at thesamegame
create success even when the odds are not in your favour. During the next two years, Pete
and I had been asked tocomeon trial at the
club.Next thing Iam makingmyway to the training pitches, where I’m telling the coach I’ve been asked tocomeand train and that I’m on trial”. At the age of merely 13 years old,
the young artful dodger tactfully created an on opportunity for himself out of the right circumstances. Fast forward four weeks of training, drills and focussing on getting everything right and proving his metal amongst the other playerswhowere already signed to the club, Petewas handed papers and told that the clubwould like to sign him in to their U14’s academy team. As I laugh this out over a coffee with Pete, he did informmethat his matewas also fortunate enough to get signed so he didn’t feel too bad about the whole thing and ifworking in professional sport has ever taught meanything, it’s the compulsion to
38 FEBRUARY /MARCH2018 THECHELTONIAN
would continue to develop himself as a player striving towards a career in the professional game.Operating between central midfield and right back, Petewasmoving closer to potentially securing a Scholars Contract and his first run on the professional ladder, when in February 2011 Pete picked up an injury during a game. Notwanting to spend time on the treatment table at such a crucial point in his career Pete played on in the comingmonths until grinding to a halt mid-gameinApril with what would later be diagnosed as a hernia thatwould require surgery. As the season drewto a close and with Pete out of action, he focussed on rehab and getting himself back up to speed arriving for pre-season training in July. “I focussed on gettingmyself
ready and coming back in to train with the Under 18’s and I felt like I would be able to get straight back to it, as I felt fit, but then the more you do, the more you realise you can’t do and something just wasn’t right. I wasn’t able to get back to where I had been and I foundmyself struggling in certain areas despite the effort to get back to where I needed to be”. With no sign of a ScholarsContract
being offered to Pete at 16 years old, hemadea call to head back to St. Thomas Richards School where he
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