Cup Hero forced to retire at 23

Chasetown cup hero Nicky Harrison has been forced to hang up his boots at the young age of23. Nicky who scored in the Scholars FA Cup game against league one Oldham in front of 3.8 million TV viewers, broke down when he had to tell manager Charlie Blakemore the news.

Whilst not only facing retiring from the game, Nick is facing also having to redress his career path since his job as a full time sports coach will also be under threat.

The bleak choice is if he doesn't quit now he may well be wheel chair bound by the age of 25. The rare bone condition in fact means that the thigh bones running into his hips are the wrong way round, the wear and tear this caused has damaged the hip joints. Nick has been suffering in recent months but until diagnosised but the problem down to muscle problems.

Nick today has an appointment in Birmingham seeking a second appointment. A possible double hip replacement or breaking and reseting the bones maybe an option, but even these measures won't save his footballing career.

Chasetown have offerd Nick who already coaches Hednesford under 14 side a role on the scholars coaching staff. However Nick who admits to been 'a bit depressed' states
I'm thinking about it but it's going to be hard going back to the same enviroment but not as a player

The only bright spot Nick can find if the solice in his FA Cup run and goal and the Championship medal.

Whatever the future holds we wish him all the best. This is a story of an end of the dream, tipped to follow Chris Slatter into the pro game he certainly hasn't the finacial security of todays proffessional players highlighting the difference between the have's and have nots.

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