Life can take you on some strange journeys. Take Dave Dean, a few years ago he had a career at a bank looking after your pounds. Fast forward half a dozen years and today Dave is part of the Wanderers' medical team and spends his days pounding flesh.
It was something of a cruel twist of fate but Dave has used it to build a new life.
"I was working in the bank for 17 years before I was made redundant. My wife and I spoke about what I wanted to do and I'd always been interested in sport. Back then I played a bit of rugby and volleyball and, in fact, I was the GB women's volleyball coach," says Dave.
"So, after talking things over I decided to go back to college. After two years studying sports therapy at Thameside College I went to study for a BSc at Salford University."
It was while he was at Salford that fate got involved. Part of the course there included a work placement for two months and Dave was fortunate to get a slot here at the Reebok.
"Getting a chance to come to Bolton then was great. The college had links with other football clubs but Bolton was the pinnacle and I was really pleased to get a chance."
He must have impressed because after qualifying he was offered a job in the medical department.
Two years on, Dave is an established member of the medical team, headed by physio Nick Worth and along with Harry Brooke he is one of two rehabilitators.
"The role involves using lots of different techniques to help keep the players' bodies in shape. In particular, we use various different types of massage. Sometimes, it can be very deep and can be quite painful. We perform lots of massages and stretching which are designed to get rid of aches and pains on a daily basis."
The medical team's day starts at 8am with a meeting to discuss the players — both fit and injured — and work out a plan of action for them. Some players come in early for a massage ahead of training, others come straight for treatment. The team takes the group of players through various stretches to ensure the muscles are ready for action. They also go out on the training pitch so that they are on hand if any knocks or strains occur during sessions. There's more hands-on work in the afternoons and before leaving, notes are written and put on the database.
"What we do each day depends on what a player has been working on. If, for example, they've been having shooting practice, they'll have worked one set of muscles far more intensively than normal and we may have to work on that
"On the days before games we travel to the hotel with a treatment table so that players can have a relaxing massage at night which helps them sleep so that they are prepared for the game.
"Then, on match days, I have to make sure all the stock of medical equipment we may need is readily available, help set up the treatment room and perform any last minute massages that are needed.
"If a player picks up an injury during the game, we go into the treatment room with them to make sure they get what they need straight away."
It's all a far cry from his old life — though massage is something that he has studied for a long time.
"I started getting interested in massage therapy and went to night classes to study and then progressed to sports massage," says Dave, who still lives in his native Leeds.
"There are lots of different techniques in massage. Typically, the type of thing we do with the players is nothing like the relaxing spa treatments in hotels — that tends to be Swedish massage. The club is very good, because we are constantly encouraged to go on training courses to keep up to date with what is happening and ensure that the players have access to the latest treatments."
The Premier League is glamorous, but the day-to-day involvement can sometimes make you a little blasé about how lucky you are. But Dave says he never gets complacent about his new life.
"There are long hours, you can be away from your family for a long time and you tend to see the players when they don't want to see you — when they're injured, so naturally they aren't always in the best of moods — but it is still a fantastic job.
"I worked it out the other day that last year I visited 9 different countries, went to 7 World Cup stadiums, travelled on 27 aeroplanes, stayed in 37 hotels and was at 60 different games. So, yes, it beats working at the bank," says Dave, proving he still has a head for figures!
"I don't think I would ever want to do anything else. I am living the dream of a lot of other people. I go to places that people only read about. I am involved in the Premier League. The flip side is that it is hard work, long hours and you don't see much of the family at Christmas.
"Sometimes, it's surreal. For instance, I remember looking round and seeing Gary Speed playing guitar and singing 'Wonderwall'. You have to pinch yourself and ask, 'Am I really here?'"
"And, thankfully, the answer is 'Yes'"
