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and i quote
He is likely to play for the Latics, who are second from bottom of the Premier League table, in their fixture against Blackburn at Ewood Park on Wednesday.Whatever happened to Sonny Pike?
“Whatever happened to Sonny Pike?” asks Dan Williamson. “I’m certain that years ago I watched a documentary about him and learned that he was England’s brightest-ever prospect. I am also sure that he trained with the Ajax youth side.”
Sonny – the nephew of ex-Tottenham striker Mark Falco – became semi-famous after was invited to join Ajax’s Academy of Excellence at the age of seven. Sadly, as this website explains, his dreams of a professional career ended a couple of years ago. “Sonny is currently living near Dundee, and is studying psychology at Dundee University. He found the pressures of top-class football too much, and in 2003 decided to pursue a more regular career – having been privy to sports psychologists, he decided to follow that path. Nonetheless, he still has a fervent passion for the game, playing Sunday league football for Dryburgh Saints, as well as weekly five-a-side fixtures against other students.”
“He is currently training for a Scottish FA coaching certificate, and as part of this, he coaches two primary school teams in the area. Although he doesn’t support a local team, he goes to matches regularly, purely for his love of the game. Sonny says that he’s much happier away from professional football. The pressure placed on him by his club, agents, sponsors and, to a lesser extent, the media made him suffer a nervous breakdown in October 2000, whilst still part of the Ajax youth squad.”
“I couldn’t take it, and I got ill, really screwed up,” Sonny adds. “I stopped going to training and stuff, because I was so screwed up I couldn’t hack it. Looking back, it’s amazing how low I was. Ajax completely forgot about me, they didn’t want to know, but as soon as I was better, they acted like they’d always been there for me. I realised how superficial it is at that level, and if I hadn’t got back to form I bet they would have turfed me out. That’s why I packed it in, it’s so unstable. I guess it was during that period that I realised how much psychologists can help people, and I suppose I took it from there.” Vat 69 did you ever appear on the wheeltappers and shunters club ?
Hmmm we ve had megson at bowtON
irvine at prestON
could it be martinez next at wigON
JUST A THOUGHT :)