What Next For Roger?

It's been a strange six months for Roger Freestone. First off his career at Swansea ended at the end of last summer after 13 years at the Vetch. However, his football career didn't end as he re-signed for first club Newport County and, as we reported earlier in the season, he embarked on a career in financial services.

Well, six months on and the career in financial services was short lived and his football career has now officially ended with his release from Newport County at the back end of last week. We caught up with Roger at the start of the week to find out what is happening in the Freestone household and why has he quit football?

"To be honest, it got to the stage where I wasn't enjoying it any more. Football has given me a great life and I like to think I have given plenty back. However, the last game I played for Newport on the Saturday, I had to have five injections in my ankle to get through the game. There comes a time when you can't do that anymore. I had the chance to have my contract paid up and I took it. It's been something in my life that I wouldn't change but everything must come to an end and for me and football it has got to that stage.

"It was harder at Newport - I did miss the atmosphere at the Vetch when I left and certainly on matchday it was quieter. That wasn't a factor in the decision though, it just got to the stage where it was time to call it a day. You often here people say you can't predict when you know it's time to stop, you just know and I knew.

"I'm still planning to play for the Swans in the masters tournament but it will no longer be a Saturday afternoon thing for me week in week out. It's going to be strange for a while but I'm sure I'll get used to it. On top of that, this will be my first chance to have a 'normal' Christmas. I can eat and drink what I choose to. Hey who knows in three months time they'll wonder how this fat bloke ever played football" he says with the trademark Freestone grin!

So outside of football what's the plan for the future? "Watch this space. There are a few opportunities in the pipeline and potentially I could become self employed with a franchise I am considering. I don't know exactly at the moment but I have a mortgage, I have a family, there has to be an income somewhere."

I do find it sad personally that it ended this way and I do wonder if Roger will ever regret not calling it a day when he left Swansea. The thing is with Roger is he is one of life's nice blokes and you want everything to work out for him. He has values that I admire in that family come first and on that basis I am sure Swans fans everywhere will continue to wish one of the few people to earn the legend tag the very best in whatever he does in the future.

Football will miss you Rog.

Photo: Action Images

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