Rob Hulse: Former West Brom striker starts new life as Dudley physio

Most players retire in their mid 30s; an incredibly early age to lose such an all-consuming profession that’s highly likely been all you’ve known since you were a teenager.

But former Albion striker Rob Hulse always knew what he wanted to do after hanging up his boots.

And four years after juggling a part-time course with parenting, the man who helped Albion win promotion to the Premier League in 2004 is now a physiotherapist in Dudley.

This summer, Hulse qualified from the University of Salford with First Class Honours in a Bachelors degree in Physiotherapy.

And the Crewe-born striker, whose degree was partly funded by the PFA (Professional Footballers’ Association), earned the highest mark out of everyone on the course.

“I’m pleased it’s finished now,” he told the Express & Star. “It’s been a long four years. It’s been a bit gruelling with the travelling but I’ve enjoyed the experience.

“It was a course predominantly made up of footballers who had retired early, and the other half made up of physio assistants from the NHS who were already working in the industry.

“There was about 30 of us and it was whittled down to 21 after a few drop outs.”

Hulse, who studied alongside ex-Burnley and Manchester City defender Stephen Jordan, still lives in this area with his Midlands-born wife and their two daughters, aged seven and nine.

And he is now a rotational physiotherapist at Russell Hall’s Hospital in Dudley.

“I’m really excited to be making the transition into a new career with The Dudley Group (NHS Trust),” he said. “I’m currently on the medicine rotation. You go and you earn your stripes, putting what you learn into practice.”

Hulse only played for the Baggies for two seasons before spells at Leeds, Sheffield United, Derby and Queens Park Rangers, but his 10 league goals in the 2003/04 season were crucial to getting Albion back up to the Premier League.

Although he featured much less in the Great Escape a season later, he still gets the odd Albion fan recognising him in Dudley.

“There’s been one or two people, but remember it has been quite a while since I played for the Baggies,” he said. “But you know what Dudley people are like, they’re really friendly.”

As part of his course, Hulse completed a placement at Leicestershire County Cricket Club.

At the moment, he is happy working in the NHS, but he’s not ruled out a move into sport later in his career.

“I really enjoyed my time with the Foxes,” he said. “So I’d like to (go into sport) at some point, whether it be football or cricket.

“In some respect I’ve got a bit to give from a sporting point of view, but I want to gain a broader experience first.”

Hulse always knew he wanted to become a physio when he retired, but he’s acutely aware that plenty of footballers are lost sheep when they stop playing.

He praised the PFA for partly funding his course, and said it was becoming increasingly important to look after player welfare in an age where high-paid footballers are even further removed from the real world.

“The PFA have been really good," he said. "There's lots going on highlighting the mental health issues of athletes losing their identity.

“It’s quite important that lads playing now find whatever it is they enjoy and what they want to do. There’s opportunities out there.

"I’m not saying everyone should be a physio. Just have a little think of what interests you, make use of what the PFA have.

“I’ve been there, all you think about from week to week is playing football, you live game by game.

“With me, I always knew, if I hadn’t gone into football I would have gone into this. I knew that was my exit strategy, and I didn’t really want my life to be defined by playing football.

“I had a great time playing and had a great career, but you have a long time after.

“I didn’t want to spend all my time talking football. I’m now looking forward to the next chapter.”