Unless they re-invent themselves as pundits, managers or after-dinner speakers, many footballers are condemned to the life of pub licensees or sports shop owners after they've finally hung up their boots

But former Bradford City player-manager Trevor Cherry has broken that mould, maintaining a business career even when he was still booting them in the net at Valley Parade.

After leaving Leeds for Bradford in 1982 he played for one season to concentrate on management and secured City's promotion in 1985.

He departed from the club after the fire tragedy the same year which claimed 56 lives.

"While playing I maintained an interest in a waste paper business because I never wanted to be one of those players whose life revolved around football, so that when the inevitable happened, you'd end up standing in the shower one day thinking the best days were behind you and there was nothing to look forward to.

"Like many parents my mum never really wanted me to be a footballer, believing it wasn't a real job. But there are a lot of principles I learned on the pitch that I have been able to apply to the businesses I've been involved in."

As well as Trevor Cherry & Co waste paper, he also went on to run a successful incentives and promotions business. After two decades locked into business pursuits, things have gone full circle for the 57-year-old who began his soccer career as a 17-year-old with Huddersfield Town.

"Now he has moved back to the beautiful game as a non-executive director with Taskcatch, which operates the "pay and play" Soccercity five-a-side football centres in Bradford, Huddersfield, Leeds and Fareham, Hampshire. The three West Yorkshire centres can cater for up to 2,100 teams a week. Each is affiliated to the FA and organises its own leagues.

The Bradford centre attracts 3,000 players a week and has a capacity for up to 950 teams a week on its site at Thornton Grammar School. The school uses the pitches during the day while Soccercity operates a dozen outdoor pitches during weekends and evenings.

"This is the grass roots of the game," he added.

"It's on a five-a-side pitch you'll see people of all ages trying to emulate their heroes, having fun and staying fit. Five-a-side football is increasing in popularity because it's easier to assemble a smaller team, primarily because the time commitment needed is less, typically one hour of a mid-week evening each week."

Despite his return to football, Mr Cherry entertains no ambitions to return to the high intensity world of league club management.

"Not at all," he added.

"Football will always be in my blood so the ability to marry my interest in business with my passion is a fantastic opportunity. Successful football clubs and successful businesses have much in common. Both are a team game, where everyone has a job to do to achieve whatever goal they're aiming at.

"In my case I couldn't have enjoyed the success I have without the help of other people in the team I was in.

"Effectively my whole career has been about being a team player with enough individuality and leadership to help make a difference.

"And that philosophy is as true in the boardroom as it is on the pitch."