Mekki's Made Of The Write Stuff As He Looks To The Future

It’s the lifestyle of much envy, but too often we don’t get to hear about the other side.

Adam Mekki has been a pro since 2009 but now aged 28 the Bromley midfielder - like hundreds of others out of contract - has no idea what’s ahead of him. Covid has made a traditionally tricky time of year doubly difficult.

“I’ve been lucky,” said the former Tranmere and Barnet player, who spent time last season on loan at Ebbsfleet United.

“I first went full-time 11 years ago at Aldershot. I had enrolled at John Moores University in Liverpool but the contract offer came - I had a big decision to make.

“You don’t turn down the chance to become a professional footballer. I’ve never regretted it for a minute but I think what Covid has done is really shaken so many people - myself included.

“When you’re a footballer you never think about it all coming to an end. People have always asked what I’m doing after, you almost become good at not answering the question.

“‘I’ve got a good few years left yet’ you will say. You are geared to always look at next year, the next contract. But the years have gone by and now things for so many will be really unclear - myself included.

“What this period has done is open my eyes - and plenty of others’ I think too. It’s given me a taste for life after football, when all of a sudden it stops. Now I need to really start thinking about my future.”

While Mekki maintains playing football full-time next season remains his number one goal, he is now taking action to move his life forward in tandem.

It’s been on his mind since breaking his leg against Eastleigh last year and another big decision has been made.

“When I got injured I began putting together a CV,” he recalled about the day he wondered if he would ever play again.

“I remember thinking ‘not got much to put on here, have I?’ and at that point I really decided to get the ball rolling and start thinking about building myself up. Football was never going to last forever.

“I’ve done my UEFA 'B' Licence, worked with a friend at his academy, recently put myself forward to volunteer with the NHS and as of September I am taking the PFA’s course to study sports journalism.

“That’s something I can’t wait for. It’s always been of interest to me - the social media side, the interviews or even helping with the commentary when I’ve been out injured. Now I want to know more and try to get into that aspect of the game.

“It’s study from home, and the best thing is that the course is run around football as it’s put on by the PFA. I can still play and work towards a degree at the same time.”

The two clubs Mekki played for in 2019-20 didn’t have seasons to remember but his own campaign was actually quite different.

He said: “After Ebbsfleet got tonked at Barrow they made some moves to try and get more players in.

“We really started to turn it around and I enjoyed having an impact there. Honestly, if the season would have continued I really think the club would have stayed up.

“I was recalled by Bromley for what actually turned out to be the last game of the season against Harrogate.

“We started 13 games unbeaten and were looking strong but for one reason or another we lost our way a little bit.”

PICTURES BY ED BOYDEN, BROMLEY FC & EBBSFLEET UNITED