ANDY RAFFERTY used to save goals — but now he saves lives.
The former keeper felt his football career had hit the buffers after spells in the lower leagues with Darlington, Hartlepool, Dover and Spennymoor.
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Andy Rafferty enjoyed a huge high for Dover in the FA Cup against giants Crystal Palace in the FA Cup in 2015 but is now a paramedicCredit: Getty Images – Getty
Former lower-league keeper Andy Rafferty has experienced a testing start to his NHS career due to the Covid-19 crisis
Being applauded and cheered by the public makes many NHS staff, including paramedics like Andy Rafferty, feel valued
So he quit to become a paramedic.
And six months into his new job Rafferty, 31, has had a baptism of fire due to the coronavirus pandemic.
He told SunSport: “I decided I wasn’t as good as I wanted to be at saving shots — so thought how about saving lives instead?”
And 6ft 4in Rafferty — based in Distington, Cumbria — was choked when he and a colleague were applauded through the streets while they were saving someone’s life.
He said: “At one job, a patient was gravely ill and we were blue-lighting him to Carlisle. It coincided with the Thursday ‘Clap for the NHS’. Everyone was applauding and cheering us.
“I felt like a wet blanket. It got to me as this patient was very poorly and we were trying to get him to hospital quickly. It was emotional.
“It sounds a cliche but I don’t do it for thanks. I never gave it much thought. We’re just doing what we’ve always done.’”
It’s been a baptism of fire during the pandemic. The workload has increased but other calls we used to get that could’ve been dealt with at home are down dramatically. That’s a worry.
Andy Rafferty
Rafferty suffered mental health problems after National League club Dover released him and he dropped two divisions to join Northern Premier League side Spennymoor. He said: “I felt my career was on a slippery slope.
“I made my League One debut at Hartlepool but found myself dropping into non-league with Dover.
“We reached the FA Cup third round in 2015 and played Crystal Palace — I was judged to have made the second best save in that round and there was interest from Aberdeen in the SPL.
“But I got niggling injuries and I read about my release at Dover through Twitter.
“I had offers but fell out of love with football and my wife Maria was pregnant with our first child.
“I wanted to do a university course, so decided to go part-time.
“At Spennymoor I had a few bad games. My mental health suffered.
“I was bringing up a baby with my wife, working part-time, playing football and studying, so something had to give.
Andy Rafferty spent the longest spell of his career with Hartlepool, from 2010-14Credit: PA:Press Association
Former shot-stopper Andy Rafferty says he learnt of his exit from Dover on TwitterCredit: Rex Features
“I told the manager I wanted to concentrate on other things and it’s the best decision I’ve made.
“I miss the lads but don’t miss playing.”
Rafferty did a 2½-year paramedic course in Ambleside in the Lake District.
He said: “My grandfather and dad worked in the police. But I’m too soft and sensitive to be in the police.”
Even so, it has been a steep learning curve working for North West Ambulance Service during a national health emergency.
Rafferty said: “We attend 999 calls. Anything from serious allergic reactions to chest pains, traumas, cardiac arrests or helping elderly people who fall.
“It’s been a baptism of fire during the pandemic. The workload has increased but those other calls we used to get, that could’ve been dealt with at home, are down dramatically. That’s a worry.”
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Rafferty, who hails the “unbelievable” work of doctors and nurses, admits the coronavirus is difficult to diagnose but always errs on the side of caution.
He said: “Usually sufferers have an increased breathing rate and need oxygen or have a high temperature.
“There are other presentations but if we see those tell-tale signs we take them to hospital.”
Some shifts have sadly seen Rafferty and his colleagues unable to save someone. Death is a reality of the job.
And Rafferty — father of boys Charlie, three, and one-year-old James — added: “It has an emotional effect and dealing with it comes with experience.
“I like to go home and give my kids a big hug and squeeze. My wife can tell when I’ve had a tough day.
“I want to be the best I can at helping people and saving lives.”
Although Rafferty admits his football days are over, he believes the sport prepared him for his new career.
He said: “You must be calm under pressure and work in a team.
“On my Hartlepool debut, Tranmere fans were shouting and throwing coins at me. I thought if I can get through 90 minutes of this I can do all right.”
Now people clap Rafferty through the streets as he helps save someone’s life.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
