Education is the ultimate necessity after one has satiated himself. Or herself. It is a birthright that shouldn’t be denied to anyone. As long as you’re educated, as long as you pledge to stay that way and update yourself, there’s no beating you. You’re all set to conquer the world. It’s a lifelong journey that everyone must undertake, no matter the circumstance.
In this series, we’re going to take a look at all the footballers who’ve managed to realize that their careers are short-lived. They made sure that they had a safety net. Something to fall back on. This has nothing to do with IQ or how smart they were with books. It’s all about keeping your options open. In Part 1, we’re going to go to the very beginnings of the sport. Back when it was still amateurish. Everyone who played most definitely had a second profession. Most of these professions required them to be proficient in their field, and that meant attending university. Here’s a list of everyone who played football but also went to university to further their knowledge.
Harald August Bohr
A footballer who was also a mathematician, this gentleman was the younger brother of the legendary physicist Niels Bohr. Born in Copenhagen on the 22nd of April, 1887, he excelled in both football and studies. The man played for Akademisk Boldklub for a very long time. Based in his hometown, the club is nicknamed The Academics and is functional to this day.
Harald debuted for them as a 16-year-old in 1903. Five years later, he’d play for Denmark’s national side in the 1908 Summer Olympics. In what was his nation’s first official international match, a young Harald scored a brace and helped his side win the game. He even played a part in the semifinal win against France. Losing out to Great Britain in the finals, he won the silver medal for his effort. He excelled in both academics and sport and served as an inspiration to many. Mr. Bohr studied at the University of Copenhagen.
Bernard Joy
A journalist who played football (yes, some journalists could walk the walk back in the day), this London born Englishman holds the record for being the last amateur to play for the English national team. As a youngster, he began playing for the joy of it. He went to the University of London where he played for them. Bernard joined Casuals FC in 1931 and remained signed with them until 1948. He played for numerous other clubs including Arsenal whilst still being a Casuals player.
The Englishman made his debut for his country against Belgium on the 9th of May, 1936. That was his only appearance for his nation. Writing for The Star about football, he moved to the Evening Standard and the Sunday Express later on. Playing as a defender, he has also played for Southend United, Fulham, Southampton, and West Ham, in his career.
Kevin O’Flanagan
Or Dr. Kevin, to be exact, was a football player who started out playing Gaelic football. Quickly switching to the association variety, a young Kevin joined the Dublin County football team before making it to the Bohemians in 1936. He got a callup to play for the Irish national team, a year later. He also joined the University College Dublin in 1937 to study medicine. The youngster showed interest in rugby too. He was a capable track and field athlete as well.
Moving to London after graduating as a doctor, he joined Arsenal’s ranks. However, he remained an amateur, so he could play rugby too. With an avid interest in golf and tennis, which he played in his spare time, a young Dr. Kevin retired from football in 1949.
Brian Hopkins
Born on the 15th of March 1933 in Derby, England, this gentleman played as a right-winger in his heyday. Playing for Keele University, he was selected to play for the Burslem based Port Vale FC in 1957.
Making just two appearances for them, he moved to Burton Albion the very next year. It is unclear if he ever got to play for them, though.
Brian Hall
A Scotsman by birth, this gentleman was a Liverpool legend who went on to win major honors at Anfield. Moving to the city to study at the University of Liverpool, he was someone who managed to impress Bill Shankly when asked to. Why wouldn’t Bill have liked him, though? He was a hardworking and efficient player. Signed in 1968 by the Reds, he debuted for them on 7/4/1969. Brian, who played as a midfielder, scored 21 goals for LFC in 224 appearances.
Graduating with a Bachelors Degree in Science, he has won numerous honors with the Merseyside team. The Glaswegian later transferred to Plymouth Argyle in 1976. He would play for Burnley before hanging his boots in 1980.
That’s all in Part 1 for now. Make sure you visit us again to know more about footballers who completed their University Degrees.
