Former Wolves defender Colin Brazier talks about life after football once he had hung up his boots.
How did your Wolves career come to an end?
In 1982, we had a new manager come in, Ian Greaves. I was playing for the reserves at the time, and on the Tuesday, I scored three goals, and the Saturday I scored two goals and on the following Tuesday I scored another hat-trick, and I remember Greaves calling me on the Tuesday night to tell me that he was letting me go, and then on the Thursday night I was back in America. The difference was back then, I was on £200 a week here, but £1000 a week in America, living on a golf course in Florida, so there wasn’t much to complain about. It was nice to go back to America, but leaving Wolves was one of my saddest days in football. I just loved it. At Wolves, it was just a lovely family atmosphere, great guys. At Wolves I never became a regular first-teamer, I was in and out, and I should have just focused on being a centre-half, but because I wanted to play I played everywhere from goalkeeper to centre-forward at Wolves, which didn’t help your career as you’re always on the fringe. But those were happy days as you can see with the lads when we get together, how good we are with each other,
What led to you retiring from the game?
After Wolves, I had another season in America, then I came back to England because the American league closed down, knocked on Birmingham City’s door and Ron Saunders took me on. In 13 games for Birmingham City, I played eight different positions, and I was never really happy there. My problem was that I had my mum’s mouth and would always speak my mind, so had a falling out, but after a few months with Lincoln, I knocked on Walsall’s door, and outside my time with Wolves, I had the best three years of my career. I played 115 times and was part of a tremendous little side there, and we had a great run in the League Cup where we got to the semi-finals, after beating Coventry City and Arsenal, in the semi-final we drew 2-2 with Liverpool away at Anfield but then lost 2-0 at home. From there, I went to Kidderminster Harriers and played in the Northern Premier, won the FA Trophy with them, and finished injured, after getting an injury in the final. I got a semi-pro England cap and that was it really – it all finished very quickly. How the time has gone.
Did it take time for your life to adjust after football?
It really did. I went to work in the dark and would come home in the dark which was unnatural to me after all those years of being a footballer. But when I was younger, my dad wouldn’t let me sign my pro terms with a club until I had a trade under me, so I was a plumber and I was able to go back into plumbing as I had that under me. Then the last 20 years I’ve had my own business fitting kitchens, but I’m looking to retire now.
What did you miss most about football?
It’s like the Army, it’s the camaraderie you have with the boys. Every time we see each other it’s like we’ve never stopped talking. I spoke to Bob Hazel today, and I hadn’t spoke to him for 35 years, but it was like we’d only seen each other yesterday. You’re a pack of people who were always taking the mick out of each other and it’s constant. It’s not the game you miss, as such, it’s the people you miss.
What didn’t you miss when you retired?
The training! I hated training, going up and down Cannock Chase on a Monday, up and down the South Bank on a Tuesday, in the gym Tuesday afternoon with more running, then the first-team would play the reserves on a Thursday, kick the crap out of each other because that got your position, and then Friday was a bit of ball play. But it was constant fitness, fitness, fitness and come Saturday I was quite tired because I’d used all my energy trying to keep up with everybody in training, so when it was time to perform I was full of aches and pains.
Was your game was more suited to the modern game?
I think it would have done. I wanted to get the ball down and play, but the amount of times the manager would say, percentage-wise, I’m giving the opposition more of a chance to get the ball off me, but I remember nutmegging somebody on the goalline once and got the biggest rollocking of my life. But my brain was saying this kid was going to rush in, he’s going to close me down, but I was able to tuck it through and away I went but got told off for doing that. I had a football brain, and when you go through the leagues, everybody can pass a ball and trap a ball, but the difference between the professionals and the amateurs is the way you think about the game.
Do you still watch and follow football?
I do, but I’m getting more and more disgruntled with it, to be honest. I’ll flick it on and off, but I can’t stand goalkeepers messing about with the ball, defenders messing about with the ball, VAR and all that. I would get rid of VAR in a heartbeat because it’s not helped. What we need is referees taking charge of the game, not being criticised for making mistakes – because we all make mistakes – and players having more respect for the referees. I don’t like the disrespect referees get. I think there’s a lot to detract you from football these days.
This article originally featured in Wolves' official 2023/24 matchday programme. Last season's programmes - as well as the ones published so far from the current campaign - are still available to purchase online through retailers Curtis Sports.
