Chad Bond knows a thing or two about the harsh reality of trying to make the grade in football
It's a crazy story when you think about it. A Swans youth released by one manager, re-signed by another and given a league debut by another one and all in the space of just a few short years - welcome to the crazy career of Chad Bond.
Bond was released from the club by Kenny Jackett but when he left and was replaced by Roberto Martinez he was brought back into the club and given another chance. Spells in Spain and Port Talbot followed before he completed the turnaround last weekend with a league start at Coventry as the Swans recorded their first win of the season.
And Bond knows that it could all have been so different as he told the Western Mail “The fear of a life outside football has kept me going – and I never wanted to quit
“I always say I don’t like to look back because I don’t know what I’d be doing if Roberto hadn’t given me that second chance.
“I want to make the most of it because I know what it’s like outside football.
“I had a few little jobs but I was disheartened for a long time, It hurt. I felt lost because all I ever wanted to do was play football. I didn’t know what to do with myself.
“And with Swansea if you get released there’s not many other clubs around this area. If you’re in the Midlands there’s five or six other clubs.
“To be told when you’re 18 there is no future at your hometown club – somewhere I’d been for eight years – was heartbreaking.
“I was a first-year pro but it took Kenny Jackett about three minutes to tell me there was no contract for me the next year.
“The club looked as if it was going up from League One and Kenny said he didn’t think I was ready for the Championship.
“He said I would be ready when I was 21 or 22 – and it turned out that he was right. But it was hard to hear.
“I’ll always be grateful to Roberto for giving me another chance,” said Bond.
“But I was nowhere near the bench last season and I never thought I’d start a Championship match under him.
“When Paulo came in I thought everyone was in the same boat, it was a clean slate.
“I just wanted to impress in pre-season, do well and get my chance to be involved.
“Paulo has given me that extra confidence and the belief that anything is possible.
“We’d been working on set-pieces and shape in training all week and I was involved in it,” said Bond, who was a winger in his youth but operated behind the striker at the Ricoh Arena.
“But I didn’t know I was going to start until just before the game – and I saw my name on the chart.
“There were some butterflies in the stomach and the game was faster than anything I’ve been in before.
“But it was great to be a part of it and the main thing was coming away with the win.
“I’ve still got a lot to learn but the manager has shown he’s willing to give youngsters a chance – and then it’s down to how you perform.”