Former Newcastle United academy defender Josh Nicholson is on course to become a fully qualified pilot by April, balancing his training with a day job at Newcastle International Airport.
The 23-year-old was released by his boyhood club in the summer of 2021 and has since pursued a completely different career path to former team-mate Elliot Anderson, who now plays for Manchester City and England. Nicholson, who also played alongside Jamie Miley and Max Thompson, has been working at the airport for just over four years while completing his pilot training part-time on his days off.
An easy decision to make
Nicholson admitted that pursuing his dream of becoming a pilot was an easy decision after his Magpies journey came to an end. He told Chronicle Live: “I’m working at the airport, I’ve been there for just over four years and alongside that, I’ve doing my pilot training part-time on my days off. I am hoping next April to be fully qualified and then I’ll be on the hunt for a job.
“That will be nearly five years from leaving the academy to becoming a pilot so it’s been quite a journey. It’s quite an easy decision from my journey at the club to where I want to go now.
“I knew deep down what I really wanted to do and I had a clear vision of what it would be like. There was one time I regretted stepping away from football and it was after my first night shift - but the reality is that it’s for me, it’s what I want to do.”
Preparing players for life beyond football
Newcastle academy director Steve Harper has consistently spoken about his belief that success for the club’s youth ranks can come in many forms. While the primary aim is to supply the first team with promising young players, Harper also takes pride in watching players thrive in the EFL and non-league after leaving Newcastle.
Nicholson said: “In a way, being released took the pressure off, it took the expectation away from family, friends and coaches. They say who is likely to make it every year but you still feel you have to perform day-in, day-out and that’s pressure.
“You step into the real world, it’s a different type of pressure.”
Supporting former academy players
Nicholson was speaking at a specially arranged darts tournament for Magpies academy alumni who are part of the ‘Next Phase of Play’ group. Set up by Academy Safeguarding Manager Julie Smith, the group aims to provide support and guidance for former players long after their time at Little Benton has ended.
The group has a thriving WhatsApp community and holds special events, such as the darts tournament led by world No 17 Chris Dobey at St James’ Park’s Platinum Club. Players from various backgrounds take part, with some still playing in the EFL and others combining work with non-league football.
Nicholson explained: “It’s nice to be here - and although there aren’t many from my age group here, there are faces you recognise from around the place. You fall back into what it’s like in the academy, seeing each other around the place when you’re playing on a weekend. It’s like stepping back in time.
“You share the same stories, just from different points of view. You have the same jokes, the same stories about people at the academy, the ones you can go to and have a laugh with. It’s nice to reminisce about how it was.”
Nicholson believes the group shows how supportive the Magpies academy is towards players who have left the club. He said: “People might not know about this side of the club. There’s a lot more to it than people realise and even when I was there, it was all about just get into the first team. But it’s so much more than that, the club have shown there are other paths out there and they are so supportive.
“It’s not just about progressing through the academy, although it is a privilege to have that opportunity. It’s a slim window to progress and although I didn’t progress, I shared a dressing room with players that have.
“Some will stay in football - but some go in a separate direction like I have.”
Former Newcastle United academy players wishing to join the ‘Next Phase of Play’ group are asked to contact Academy safeguarding manager Julie Smith at julie.smith@nufc.co.uk.
