Ex-Yeovil captain Staunton on switch to gardening

Josh Staunton has set up a new gardening business since being released by Yeovil in November

After making a career out on a football pitch and months after being unexpectedly released by Yeovil Town, former captain Josh Staunton has a new job tending to the grass as a full-time gardener.

The 28-year-old's contract was mutually terminated by the National League South club in December while he was still captain and having made more than 100 appearances.

But in the short time since Staunton set up his own company he already looks after a number of local gardens as well as a cricket club pitch.

"It's been a whirlwind. I think they say you never know what's round the corner in life and this is the epitome of that," Staunton told BBC Points West.

"If someone had said to me you're going to be starting your own company by February and really in full swing by the summer when I should be having some time off from football, I don't think we would have guessed this would be the case."

Staunton, originally from Canterbury, began his career in Gillingham's academy, before playing for clubs including Maidstone, Charlton Athletic, Dagenham & Redbridge, Woking and Halifax.

He joined the Glovers in August 2020 and stayed with the club after their relegation from the National League to the sixth tier last spring.

But Staunton found playing time limited and he made only eight league games before being released.

"It was a situation where I had things thrust on me in terms of the next step in my life," Staunton said.

"But I think if you spend too much wasting time looking back thinking about what-ifs and feeling sorry for yourself, you lose the present."

Staunton made more than 100 appearances for Yeovil and was captain when he was released

Staunton had already started thinking about life after football and credits a former Yeovil club groundsman for being his "mentor" to transition to the gardening world.

"I've been studying in the background for several years trying to make a plan. I won't claim to know everything but I'm pretty well versed in most things," he said.

He said it was still "daunting" stepping into a totally different world, although he has kept football in his life by playing non-competitively for a local team.

"I was in football for years and very tunnel vision like any young footballers and you think the day is never going to come [when it ends].

"The challenge I've enjoyed and relished and I would definitely recommend for people to go out and be brave enough to try things on your own."