News

Former tradesman turned professional footballers kick-start talent contest by taking part in the Fiat Professional Tradesman Challenge.

Stuart Pearce (electrician), Dean Windass (hod carrier) and Geoff Horsfield (builder) launched the “Fiat Professional Tradesman Trials” – a nationwide search to find a current tradesman who has the talent to play football professionally, with the winner receiving a one month pre-season trial at a Football League club and the chance of earning a full-time contract.

Ex-England play Stuart Pearce started his career as an electrician and continued to trade until the age of 25 alongside his professional football duties while Dean Windass was a hod carrier on a building site in Hull for 18 months.

Geoff Horsfield worked as a builder before he signed professional terms and has since returned to the building trade full time. The Geoff Horsfield Foundation was set up earlier this year to help accommodate vulnerable people with mental health issues in Birmingham. Geoff and the foundation renovate properties and provide ongoing support to help them get back on their feet.

“When I first moved to Nottingham Forest from Coventry I advertised in the match day programme to get some extra income,” said Stuart Pearce. “I eventually stopped trading but Brian Clough never stopped bringing in his broken irons, toasters and kettles into the training ground for me to rewire!”

Andrea Patti, Fiat Professional Marketing Manager said: “Fiat Professional has a proud history of working closely with tradesmen and satisfying their varying needs in terms of mobility and transport.

“Our aim is to find the next big name who has the footballing ability, but just hasn’t had the right opportunity.”

Current tradesmen who think they’ve got what it takes are being offered the chance to win a one-month trial at a Football League club. They have until June 12 to submit their videos showcasing their football ability at www.tradesmantrials.co.uk.