Injury put an end to my goal of playing in the Premier League, so I renovated houses after, now I’m second to Bobby Robson (Watch)
Craig Harrison’s journey has been nothing short of extraordinary, taking him from renovating houses to being involved in more Champions League matches than almost any other Englishman.
However, his path has been filled with twists and turns, including a devastating injury that crushed his Premier League aspirations.
At the young age of 24, the defender from Gateshead had high hopes of breaking into the Crystal Palace team after leaving Middlesbrough. But tragedy struck when a harsh tackle during a reserves game resulted in a double compound fracture in his left leg.
The injury abruptly ended his playing career, forever altering the course of his life. In a conversation with Sam Matterface and Simon Jordan on talkSPORT, Harrison shared his experience, expressing the magnitude of the loss.
“On every young boy’s list of dreams, becoming a professional footballer ranks at the top. This is particularly true in the football-rich region of northeast England, where iconic figures like Paul Gascoigne have inspired generations,” he shared during the live broadcast. “Having the opportunity to play for Middlesbrough in the Premier League and then moving on to Crystal Palace in the Championship felt like the culmination of my dreams. But a life-changing injury like that turns everything upside-down, and not for the better.”
Following 19 months of grueling rehabilitation and undergoing three surgeries, Harrison ultimately had to let go of his dream of becoming a professional footballer. He found solace in a different path, immersing himself in property renovation and sales. For two years, he couldn’t bear to watch another football match as he focused on building his new career.
The unexpected twists and turns in Craig Harrison’s life have shaped him into the person he is today, proving that resilience and adaptation can lead to new opportunities even when faced with heartbreaking setbacks.