PFA member Harry Hooman has spoken to Jon Palmer at Gloucester Live discussing his post football career working as a scout…
Former Cheltenham Town defender Harry Hooman was forced to retire from playing at the age of 23 due to a foot injury.
Now 25, he is one of the youngest scouts on the circuit, taking in three matches a week and combining work for an agency with a role at Championship club Brentford.
Hooman started his career at Shrewsbury Town, spending two years as a professional and making four first team appearances.
After a successful trial in the summer of 2012, he was offered a contract by Cheltenham boss Mark Yates.
In his first season at Whaddon Road he made three Johnstone's Paint Trophy starts along with one in League Two, at Plymouth Argyle.
He also went on as a late substitute in the play-off semi-final second leg win at Torquay United as Cheltenham secured a place at Wembley.
Hooman earned another 12-month deal and he enjoyed his first run of matches at the start of the 2012/13 season, partnering Steve Elliott in the absence of the injured Alan Bennett.
A loan spell at Bath City followed, but he started having problems with his foot, which was swelling up after games and training sessions.
"I remember being on the bench for the FA Cup game against Everton (January 7, 2013) and then I played in a reserve game the next day," Hooman said.
"I had to come off at half-time in a lot of pain so I went to see a specialist and we discovered I had a broken bone in my foot, so I had that sorted, but there were other problems with the foot and it turned out to be a very unusual injury."
Hooman worked hard to regain fitness, but after missing the second half of the season, he was released by Cheltenham.
He received offers from clubs south of the border, but eventually decided to join Scottish club Inverness Caledonian Thistle, who were managed by former England defender Terry Butcher.
"I signed for Inverness and got myself fit, but then the injury struck again," he said.
"I ended up seeing a series of specialists and Inverness basically refused to honour the contract I had signed because of the injury.
"It was a tough time and after scans and X-rays I was told I had severe arthritis in my big toe.
"I went to St George's Park for a long spell of rehabilitation, but things were not progressing so I went to see one of the leading foot and ankle specialists in London."
Hooman was told he had two options: have a 'fusion' operation, which would make it highly unlikely he would be able to play professionally again, or take another option which had a better chance of being successful, but there were no guarantees.
"I was in shock really," he said. "I thought it was just going to be a short term thing, but I began to realise it was career threatening.
"I was desperate to get back playing again so I didn't want the fusion operation, which limits movement.
"I went for the other option and another long period of work at St George's Park, but I knew it wasn't right and I still couldn't push off from the foot - even now I struggle to jog on it.
"It was tough to take and a very drawn out process, but the time came when I realised however hard I worked, it was never going to be right."
It was then that Hooman began to quickly consider life after playing.
He had already completed a distance learning degree in sports science through the Professional Footballers' Association, who also support his time at St. George’s Park and are working with him to gain his coaching qualifications.
"I love football and I am passionate about it, so I knew I'd want to stay involved in the game somehow," Worcester-based Hooman said.
"I started my coaching badges and have done some work in schools, colleges and academies.
"This season I have started doing scouting work, watching games for a lot of Premier League and Football League clubs for Scout7 and compiling detailed opposition reports.
"I am also working for Brentford and also for Stoke City's academy, putting together player reports and I am thoroughly enjoying it.
"I enjoy looking at the tactical side and assessing players, so I am at two or three games a week. On the circuit you see a lot of familiar faces and I am probably one of the youngest scouts out there, but the recruitment side is what I'd like to stay involved with now."
Hooman has been back to Whaddon Road twice this season in his new capacity as a scout, taking in the matches against Stevenage and Everton.
"I really enjoyed my two seasons at Cheltenham, even though it didn't end how I'd have liked with the injury," Hooman said.
"As soon as I signed I could tell it was a talented group, who had real togetherness and we were unlucky not to get promoted.
"I didn't have a long career, but they were the best lads I worked with and it was great to learn from two experienced centre-halves in front of me, in Alan Bennett and Steve Elliott.
"I knew some of the lads would progress to play higher and it's no surprise to see Marlon Pack doing well in the Championship at Bristol City because he was so influential for us at Cheltenham."
Harry Hooman was speaking to Jon Palmer, Gloucester Live.
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