The plan was to quit but I just couldn’t walk away
AFTER 27 years embroiled in the cut and thrust of professional football, Cole Skuse was in the midst of contemplating a nice, peaceful retirement when, through a twist of fate, he bumped into his former Ipswich Town clubmate Alan Lee.
Skuse, with his playing contract at League Two Colchester United about to run down, was carrying out his part-time coaching role at St Joseph’s College, Ipswich when he spotted the familiar face of Lee on the opposite touchline.
Little did he know, his shortterm future plans were about to drastically change.
“We played a fixture against Culford School where Al is the director of sport,” Skuse recalls. “He is also a director at Bury Town.
“It was six months before I knew what was happening at Colchester and Al’s come shuffling across the pitch to greet me, asking what my plans are for next year.
“Initially, he asked if I would carry on at Bury, then to manage the club. I was obviously very flattered but my reply was the same to both offers, ‘When I’m done, I’m done Al,’ and I felt like meant it too.
“Right from the age of nine, I’d been thrust into a highly pressurised environment where you are constantly under the magnifying glass.
“Thanks largely to the sacrifices of my parents, I was very fortunate to have had a good crack at it and enjoyed a good career, playing professionally until I left Colchester at 37.
“To have 19-20 years of professional football is a real honour, but it’s also tough. I enjoyed every moment, football has been incredible to me and my family, but when it came to an end I thought my time with football was done.
“Was the plan to jump straight into management? Not in the slightest. I had absolutely no aspirations or desire to go into coaching, except really for my work at St Joseph’s as it was such a great environment to work in.
“Colchester offered me a coaching role with the Under 18s and 23s but at that time I was ready to step away from professional football.
“I’d been in that environment for so long and I’d had enough of the little bits that go unseen, like travelling etc.
“I had to make a lot of sacrifices to my family and I’d missed an awful lot. Once I was done, I was done, it would free up my time for the wife and kids.
“If I’d have stepped into Colchester Under 23s or 18s my working days will have been awfully long and I owed a huge amount of gratitude to St Joseph’s as they gave me an insight into transition and life outside of professional football.
“I’m a loyal human being and I said to them that when I finished playing I would come in full-time and it’s a decision
