England star is a postman

By JAMIE PYATT
and TOM WORDEN

FORMER England soccer ace Neil Webb has started a new job as a POSTMAN.

Webb, 39, has hit hard times since his £5,000-a-week heyday at Manchester United.

Once the soccer hero Neil Webb had his boots cleaned by David Beckham while a Manchester United favourite.

Now the retired midfielder, who quit football after a string of injuries in 1996, is working a week of ten-hour shifts at the Royal Mail sorting office in Reading, Berks.

Webb, who played 26 times for his country, admitted yesterday: "I know people might think it's a bit strange.

"But I've no skills other than football."

But the injury-hit midfielder narrowly missed the boom in soccer wages sparked by cash from TV. Instead of retiring in luxury like many of today's millionaire players, he hit hard times.

Now, after an abortive stab at football management, he has been forced to take a job at the Royal Mail sorting office in Reading, Berks - the town where he began his career playing for the local club 22 years ago.

Every day divorced Webb, who has quit his £750,000 family home for a two-up two-down on a bleak estate, has to get up at dawn for shifts sorting mail. He then picks up his sack and delivers the post to 500 houses in a local suburb - on FOOT.

One pal said: "Neil is obviously not over the moon about his fall in fortunes. His marriage is over, the big house is gone, and he is now working as a postman.

"He can never understand why he fell from grace so quickly.

"The guy played 110 games for Manchester United and was a brilliant midfielder. He played for England in the 1990 World Cup finals. He should have made enough money to be comfortable for life - but sadly, he hasn't."

The pal added: "Neil also played for three of the country's greatest managers - Sir Alex Ferguson, Brian Clough OBE, and Sir Bobby Robson - which says a lot for the bloke.

"But he was unlucky with injuries and others came and took his place.

"He is now making a new start in his new home. He is worshipped in Reading where he grew up and is one of the town's greatest-ever footballers.

"It would be nice if someone in football came and offered him a job - it's in his blood. But until then he has to pay the bills and is working over Christmas sorting mail.

"It's only a temporary job until something better comes along."

Webb, whose sons Luke, 16, and 12-year-old Josh are both budding professional footballers, spent three years at United, where England skipper Beckham signed up as an apprentice in 1991.

One of the tasks for 16-year-old Becks would have been to clean the senior professionals' boots.

During his time at Old Trafford, Webb rubbed shoulders with the likes of Bryan Robson, Mark Hughes and Peter Schmeichel. However injury troubles saw him spending more and more time on the bench and, in bid to resurrect his career, he rejoined Nottingham Forest for £800,000 in 1992.

Two years later Webb lost his place again through injury and within six months of leaving Forest was playing for non-league part-timers Aldershot.

In 1997, he became boss of Weymouth FC - but lasted only 70 days.

Webb, whose former in-laws moved into his old home following his split with journalist wife Shelley five years ago, put a brave face on his new job.

He said at his £145,000 house in Tilehurst, Berks: "I'm looking forward to it - I've never had any airs and graces.

"I played football from 16 to 33, I've no O-levels and I'm not skilled at anything but football. I'm just a normal boy who happened to play for England."

Webb, who married his new wife Dawn a year ago, added: "Since retiring in 1996 I have dabbled in this and that - and was even a white van man for a while. I'm not too proud to pick up a postbag and do a post round.

"I'm told the air is fresh and it's the best time of day. Of course I wouldn't know because we never started training until 10am - but it's given me a new start. I needed something to get me out of bed and give me some motivation. I can't just sit around at home all day watching TV.

"With the Royal Mail I get my afternoons off so I can still watch my sons play. And I get Saturdays to do some radio commentary work, so it suits me.

"I know some people will think, 'What's he doing being a postman, he played for Man United?'

"But just because I was a pro footballer does not make me a millionaire by any means." However, Webb admitted he would love to get back into football given a chance. He said: "The game doesn't owe me a living, but I'd love to get back into it as a coach or even a scout.

"Some of the lads I played with are doing really well, like my old Man Utd team-mates Mark Hughes with Wales and my old skipper Bryan Robson. But I know I'm not manager material".

Speaking of today's players, Webb added: "The situation I am in will never happen to them - they get so much more money because of Sky.

"I missed it by about two years and wages doubled or trebled. You see mediocre players in the Premiership on £15,000-a-week. They only need a three-year contract and they're made for life."

Webb refused to comment on losing the cash he raked in during his career. But it is believed his split with Shelley - who has hosted shows for BBC radio and telly's Channel 5 - took its toll.

Workers at the Loverock Road sorting office are thrilled to see the star.

One said: "Neil's a living legend to most of us. He seems very down-to-earth and hard-working. I can't believe he's doing the same job as me - you couldn't see David Beckham doing it!"