Former Bristol Rovers midfielder Seanan Clucas fell out of love with football after exit

Former Bristol Rovers midfielder Seanan Clucas said he fell out of love with football after he left the Memorial Stadium.

He was signed by Mark McGhee following his release from Preston North End in July 2012 and started well when he was signed.

Building up a partnership with John-Joe O’Toole and Oliver Norburn in midfield, Clucas played mainly as a central midfielder but was sometimes deployed as a winger.

His performances attracted interest from clubs above League Two, but in a cruel twist of fate, he unfortunately suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury and struggled to recapture his form.

He spent two seasons with the Gas, the most during his time in England, but was released after relegation to the National League.

"So I went from playing in England to coming home, having this sour taste in my mouth with Linfield, and falling out of love with football,” said Clucas to BBC Sportsound.

"I was flying when I was at Bristol, and there were a couple of big clubs interested. But then I did my cruciate.

"It’s that bit of luck you need, but I make no excuses. I probably could have knuckled down a bit more.

"I was expected to be out for nine months, but I was back training after six and back playing after seven. It was very quick and I put a lot of work into getting my knee right.”

After leaving Bristol and then a short spell at Linfield and Derry, he took a sabbatical from football.

He opted to move to Australia for 11 months where football wouldn’t be a priority and instead he would try to ‘enjoy’ himself.

Despite trying to take a break from football, he attracted the attention of Adelaide United who offered him a trial, but he rejected their advances.

After just under a year in Australia where he took a hiatus from football, he eventually found his passion for football once more.

"But I missed that routine and schedule in my life, so I was going down the wrong path.

"I remember after about 11 months being in Australia, I rang my dad and said I need to come home. It’s going down the wrong path.

"I saw sense and I was starting to miss football again. I started to get the itch back. I missed the routine and discipline."

The 29-year-old has since returned to Northern Ireland, joining his hometown team Dungannon Swifts, before settling at his current club Glentoran.