PCA PRESS RELEASE
Former Leicestershire, Northamptonshire and Kent wicketkeeper/batsman Niall O’Brien has praised the Professional Cricketers’ Association for the support they gave him in forging a second career.
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O’Brien finished playing county cricket at the end of the 2016 season but still plays international cricket for Ireland and in his home country’s new first-class domestic competition.
But he now combines his playing commitments with a day job working in sports management with London-based CSM, a role he found with the help of Charlie Mulraine, one of the PCA’s six-strong team of Personal Development and Welfare Managers.
“I must say the PCA have been a great help to me all through my career, not just the latter stages, both myself and my family, they have always been there to help,” O’Brien said.
“We put a line through a few ideas and worked towards the areas I wanted to be involved in. I think I got a clear idea after I had some meetings with the company in London but Charlie was a great help and everyone at the
PCA has always been there for me along my career.”
O’Brien is one of the 178 players that the PCA have helped find second careers since 2012 and one of two who have gone into sports management.
This week the PCA will run their first Transition Conference at Edgbaston which is aimed at helping players ranging from those in the early stages of their county careers to those who have recently retired or been released to follow O’Brien’s example and make a smooth transition into a career outside of playing.
Presenters at the inaugural PCA Transition Conference on November 8 and 9 will include Worcestershire’s batting and Second XI coach Kevin Sharp, former Essex, Worcestershire and Northamptonshire batsman Stephen Peters, Leicestershire’s new head coach Paul Nixon and former Hampshire and Surrey pace bowler David Balcombe who will discuss their successful transition from playing into a second career inside or outside of county cricket.
“The aim of the two-day conference is to provide a blend of self-reflective talks, practical advice and leave players feeling motivated and with goals,” said Ian Thomas, the PCA’s Director of Development and Welfare.
“The majority of quality work with players is done between them and their regional PDMs, but having group sessions like this can help in other ways.
