For the first time in his life Steve Elliott is doing what he considers “proper work” after bringing a long and successful career in professional football to an end.
Just over a year has passed since the 37-year-old left Cheltenham Town, where he spent five seasons as a player and then a coach. Just as he did at Derby County and Bristol Rovers, he left as a hugely popular figure around Whaddon Road.
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His next stop was Southern League club Mangotsfield United, where he spent time as assistant to manager Dave Mehew. But he is now focusing on business interests outside of the sport he has been a part of since joining hometown club Derby as a teenager.
“When I first left Cheltenham I had just had a little boy so I originally just thought about retiring for good and living off my pension and rental properties I have,” Elliott said.
“But three or four months into that and no one to play golf with I took a coaching role part-time at Mangotsfield which I really enjoyed, it was just very time consuming with my partner Katie working evenings and weekends so I left.
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“Katie had just started her clothing business called Misschiefs which has taken off so we were really busy with that, setting everything up and marketing it.
“A friend of mine had also just started up on his own in the construction industry and asked if I wanted to come in with him learning and finding out about a different career so I’m now part of that company and doing some proper work, alongside the clothing business which we’re looking at opening a second shop in Bath in the near future so I’ve been pretty busy.”
Elliott signed for Cheltenham in the summer of 2010 and helped them reach the League Two play-offs in both 2011/12 and 2012/13 under Mark Yates’ management.
“I only look back with brilliant memories of my time at Cheltenham,” he said.
“The day Yatesey signed me I felt at home again after Rovers there was a really emphasis on team spirit, camaraderie and it was a really hardworking fun atmosphere to be in which reflected in our two play-off campaigns and some great FA Cup games.
“The staff, directors and even down to the security guys really got on which made it feel like a real family club where everyone seemed to be Cheltenham through and through, which does rub off on the players.
“Most of that team still speak and were arranging a night at the darts this year to meet up so you don’t normally get that in football, but we all got on great.”
Elliott made more than 500 appearances during a career that also saw him spent time at Blackpool and win two caps for the England Under-21 team against France and Argentina.
“I look back on my career amazed really that I played for my local team in the best league in the world,” he said.
“Although I left, I needed to go and play week in week out and in a Premier League or Championship team as a young lad it was hard then with the money building up teams could go and spend a few million on a ready-made player.
“I just wanted to play and be a regular first team player and someone who was an important part of a team.
“To make over 500 apps and represent my country as well was great.
“My main motivation through it all was my dad who’d taken me everywhere watched me everywhere and whoever I was playing for whoever was the manager whether I liked them or not I wanted to perform because I knew my dad was watching.”
Elliott puts his universal popularity to his approach to every game, with fans of all of his clubs knowing he would never give anything less than 100 per cent effort.
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“I think the fans took to me because of that reason my dad taught me to stand up and be strong from an early age,” he said.
“If you’re doing something do it properly which I took on all through my career and I prided myself on it trying to lead and put my body on the line sometimes played well sometimes bad but always give it 100 per cent which I think fans see more than anything else. “
Elliott would still like to return to football in a management or coaching capacity, but only if it was on a full-time basis.
He took great pleasure in seeing Cheltenham make an immediate return to the Football League last season following relegation in 2015.
“I was elated when we went straight back up I knew it would be tough with the release of so many players and Gary (Johnson) and Russ (Milton) having to build a whole new team but I think Paul and the directors got the decision spot on,” he said.
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“In the short time I worked with Gary I knew he was a fantastic motivator and coach and would have loved to of worked under him but finances dictated that there was no money there for me as another coach.
“I messaged the staff and directors as soon as promotion was confirm to congratulate them and they invited me up to some games this season so hopefully get up at some point.”