Graduation: life lessons of a professional footballer

by Richard Lee

The 2010/11 season will go down as a memorable one for Goalkeeper Richard Lee. After more than ten years at Watford FC, Richard signed for League One outfit Brentford FC, but soon found himself cast aside. Dropped after one game and behind three other goalkeepers before he would get another opportunity - Richard would take on his toughest challenge to date! Cup wins, penalty saves, hypnotherapy and injury would follow, but these things only tell a small part of the tale. Suffering from acute mental anxiety throughout his career pushed Richard into making a choice between fight or flight. Could he overcome his fears or take the easy road out and quit? Fortunately for Brentford fans, he chose to fight. Throughout this book, Richard shares his understanding of the mind and how to apply it for high-level performance. Filled with anecdotes, insights, humour and honesty - Graduation uncovers Richard's campaign to take back the number one spot, save a lot of penalties, and overcome new challenges. What we see is a transformation - beautifully encapsulated in this extraordinary season.

228 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2012

About the author

Dr. Richard Lee is the Founding Pastor of First Redeemer Church located in metropolitan Atlanta's Forsyth County, which is recognized as one of the fastest growing churches in the Southeast United States.

Dr. Lee and his wife, Judy, reside just outside of Atlanta in the Cumming, Georgia area.

Reviews

[Cody · Rating 4 out of 5]

Graduation: Life Lessons of a professional footballer will really expanded your knowledge on the game, soccer or some would say football if you don’t play it. But this book will stand out if you play soccer, especially if your a keeper. This book talks about Richard Lee a keeper who played for Wartford FC and Brentford FC. It talks about what it takes to be a keeper at the professional level and how hard you have to work ever day every practice, and to me as a young keeper it motivated me and made me realize I have a real shot at being a professional keeper. One of the biggest things for him to overcome was his injury’s. Right when he was getting back from his torn ACL and right before the semi final game he pulled his groin. This Injury's really set him back but he never gave up at wartford and one day he got a call to play for Brentford FC one of the best teams in England and he said to himself “I finally made it”. But his first day at training the coach told him he was the third string goalie. So it wasn’t over Richard worked his butt off every day. and then he got to play his first game with Brentford FC all was good u til the 84 minute where his own defenses men stepped on his ankle and he was out for another whole season. He never stopped working and never quit and there were a lot of quotes in that book but one really stood out to me he said “If you ever fell like quitting, remind yourself why you started.” That really stood out to me because this book made me feel like I was in his body living his life and I could see myself in his position in wanting to give up, but now every single time I want to give up I’m gonna think about this book I’m gonna keep working and working it’s on the best I can be.