In addition to being a very talented ‘keeper, Nick Feely is also a very busy one, as he somehow manages to juggle a structural engineering job along with his Glory commitments.
The 25-year-old has had an unorthodox career to date, starting from when he made the gutsy decision to step back from professional football in order to pursue full-time study in Scotland.
And although leaving the game he loves for three years was tough, the hard work paid off.
“Just a couple of years and it was over and done with,” he said, “and I can now enjoy myself and not have that to worry about.”
While the move to Scotland demonstrated Feely’s independence and eagerness to take opportunities as they present themselves, Perth has, and always will be, his home.
Born into a football-mad household containing his father Peter, who played professionally for Chelsea and Bournemouth among other clubs and two brothers who are currently turning out in the NPL, he first discovered his talent for shot-stopping during competitive family visits to the park.
But he readily admits that his chosen position can be a tough one.
“You might not get many opportunities as a goalkeeper,” he said. “It’s a frustrating position to be in, but if you can get the break then you can have a long career.
“You’ve just got to keep working hard and hope the break comes. It’s just as much mental as it is physical.”
Impressively dedicated on and off the field, once training and recovery are over, Feely heads into the office and transforms into a structural engineer for the rest of the day.
And drawing from his own experiences, he has been able to offer some words of wisdom to Glory’s younger players on how to find that balance between work and study.
“I like to be there for the younger players and give them advice,” he said. “It’s a lot easier for people outside of football to give you advice on what to do, but when you’re actually in the environment, it’s hard after training when you’re tired to try and find some motivation to do something else.”
In terms of the coming Hyundai A-League season, meanwhile, the former Celtic man is keen to better himself and continue to press his claims for a place in Glory’s starting eleven.
“Having Danny [Milosevic] as a goalkeeper coach is great,” he said. “You just look for things you can do if you see areas of improvement and work on an individual level with the coach.
“It’s a case of trying to just tick boxes as much as you can to improve your own game and hopefully more games will come through.”
#CREATEDESTINY
