Former Celtic star reveals he almost turned pro in another sport

Scottish Sun

a day ago

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FORMER Celtic star Joe Hart has revealed how close he came to becoming a professional in another sport altogether.
The shot-stopper, who retired last year following a spell at the Hoops, enjoyed cricket and was a handy left-arm seamer in his day.
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Joe Hart revealed he could have become a cricketer
Credit: Alamy Live News
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He was part of the Worcestershire academy
Credit: Alamy Live News
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Hart instead chose football and had a successful 21-year career
Credit: Getty
His talent saw him picked up by the Worcestershire academy but Hart decided football would be a better career path.
Hart, 38, was also part of the Shrewsbury Town set-up in his youth and began to be selected for the matchday squad before he had even sat his GCSEs.
The former keeper recently appeared on BBC Test Match Special where he revealed his cricketing past.
He said: "I played at a good level. I was part of the Worcestershire academy when that first started to come about.
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"But I was always playing a lot of football as well and this was the time when cricket wasn't just in the summer it was becoming an all-year round type of sport so it was difficult."
Hart was asked if someone sat him down to discuss his options as a teenager, but he revealed the decision to pursue football was one he made, and really it was a no brainer.
He continued: "I was a lot further down the line (in football). I was playing for Shrewsbury Town in League Two and I was involved with the first-team from 14, 15-years-old.
"They had more of a structure, so when you turn 16 you sign schoolboy forms and you almost train professionally.
"You're a professional footballer from 16 so that pathway was there. They were very encouraging, I had been on the bench when 14/15.
"I just felt there was more of a pathway there for me football wise and cricket's a really difficult sport to be in. You have to be at a top top level just to make a living in the game.
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"And I don't think I was that good. I was decent, like many people out there, but was I going to go to the next level? I don't know.
"And in football it felt like I had a lot of people who knew a lot about me telling me I need to stay in this sport because you've got a chance."
Hart once showed off his talents in a game of cricket with his former Tottenham team-mates in 2020, and he bowled Harry Kane.
And one of his former pals at Worcestershire, Jack Shantry, believes he would have made it as a cricketer.
The former Worcestershire bowler said: "He could have gone further, definitely.
"This isn't with any faux humility, but he was a better cricketer than me at the same age. If he wanted to, he could have made it."
Ed Foster, another teammate at club level and with Worcestershire's academy, adds: "If he'd have carried on and had the glut of cricket that you can get if you want it from 17 through to 19 or 20, I'm sure he would probably have been in and around the England Under-19 setup – and who knows where he would have gone from there?
"He had all the raw materials, and where he's got to in football shows he's got enough between his ears to be able to put his physical aspects to good use.
"I'm sure he would have given himself an opportunity, for sure."
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