Barrow defender Mike Pearson proves not all footballers are "knobs" as he recalled the day when his career could have ended.
Joey Barton says modern-day footballers are just a bunch of "knobs" who are so detached from real life it’s untrue.
Well, just ask Pearson if he agrees.
The 21-year-old suffered a horrific double fracture of his right leg as Barrow went down bravely 2-1 to Middlesbrough last season's FA Cup third round tie at the Riverside.
Pearson faced an uncertain future because he did not have a contract with the non-League club and was unable to start a new job coaching schoolchildren in Llandudno.
But then he got a call from former Boro No 2 Malcolm Crosby asking to meet at an M6 service station where he was handed a bundle of cash made up of £50 donations from kind-hearted Middlesbrough players.
Pearson, who spent five days recovering in hospital on Teesside, told The Sun: "I was still on crutches and just about able to drive.
"I met up with Malcolm Crosby, who was Gareth Southgate's assistant at the time, after he called and said he wanted to see me and wish me all the best with my recovery.
"I live in Llandudno in North Wales and we settled on a service station on the motorway. We were both travelling somewhere, so it was just easier to meet up there.
"At the time I was due to start a job coaching in local schools but breaking my leg meant I couldn't.
"The Middlesbrough lads put in £50 each and with me not working that really helped a lot.
"I didn't expect anything like that when I met Malcolm and to get it was a really nice gesture.
"I also got a card from Southgate wishing me all the best. And I got Stewart Downing's shirt from the game. I've got it at home in a frame."
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Joey Barton says modern-day footballers are just a bunch of "knobs" who are so detached from real life it’s untrue.
Well, just ask Pearson if he agrees.
The 21-year-old suffered a horrific double fracture of his right leg as Barrow went down bravely 2-1 to Middlesbrough last season's FA Cup third round tie at the Riverside.
Pearson faced an uncertain future because he did not have a contract with the non-League club and was unable to start a new job coaching schoolchildren in Llandudno.
But then he got a call from former Boro No 2 Malcolm Crosby asking to meet at an M6 service station where he was handed a bundle of cash made up of £50 donations from kind-hearted Middlesbrough players.
Pearson, who spent five days recovering in hospital on Teesside, told The Sun: "I was still on crutches and just about able to drive.
"I met up with Malcolm Crosby, who was Gareth Southgate's assistant at the time, after he called and said he wanted to see me and wish me all the best with my recovery.
"I live in Llandudno in North Wales and we settled on a service station on the motorway. We were both travelling somewhere, so it was just easier to meet up there.
"At the time I was due to start a job coaching in local schools but breaking my leg meant I couldn't.
"The Middlesbrough lads put in £50 each and with me not working that really helped a lot.
"I didn't expect anything like that when I met Malcolm and to get it was a really nice gesture.
"I also got a card from Southgate wishing me all the best. And I got Stewart Downing's shirt from the game. I've got it at home in a frame."
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