Ex-pro turned Sidmouth trader charts 22 years on and off the pitch

FORMER professional footballer turned Sidmouth trader Chris Hargreaves, pictured, has penned a book charting a 22-year career in the game.

The dad-of-three, who runs the town’s High Street Sports Republic store, this week revealed how that writing Where’s Your Caravan Gone: My Life on Football’s B-Roads sparked retirement regrets after he hung up his boots last year.

“Looking back, I wish I had done another season,” said Chris, 39.

“But my philosophy is I’ve been one damn lucky bloke.”

Chris’ book, which took him four months to complete, charts a career that saw him turn out for 10 clubs including Grimsby Town, Plymouth, West Bromwich Albion and Torquay.

“I’ve had about 25 managers and come across thousands of players. There’s lots of stories in the book, good and bad, about life on and off the pitch and a pretty wild youth, which probably determined the way things went for me.”

Chris was once touted as Grimsby’s first �1million sale, but the move never materialised.

“It was very painful writing about the mistakes I’ve made, but it’s been a great life,” said Chris. “To think I was going to retire at 35, but signed for Torquay, went to Wembley twice, won promotion, scored as captain, and won player of the year.

Chris added, recalling his retirement was also tough. “After 22 years it suddenly felt right to stop,” he said.

Chris said of the book’s title: “It’s tongue in cheek. This was sung on the terraces a lot because I had long hair. The chant used to reverberate around the stands. I just used to point to the car park. I can relate to the nomadic lifestyle of a traveller as I’ve moved around so much.”

Chris’ autobiography is on sale across the country in WH Smith and Waterstones, as well as Sidmouth’s Paragon Books.