WITH a Masters in engineering, Gaz Dean certainly bucks the footballer stereotype.
The 23-year-old centre-half came through the Nuneaton Town ranks and played a big part in their rise from Step 4 to Non-League‘s top tier where they are currently riding high.
Boro’s outstanding season was reflected in this England C squad with Dean joined by midfielder James Armson and Louis Moult, a late replacement for Cambridge United’s injured Luke Berry.
And now Dean has had a taste of life in the international fast lane where the players are given the full England treatment he wants more.
“For us it’s usually rush around after work and get ready for training, quick something to eat and then off we go so we haven’t really experienced the luxuries we’ve had on this trip,” Dean said.
“Now you’ve had a little taste for it you want to carry on doing it.
“The lads who are here from the so-called big clubs have been first class. You don’t know what to expect because they’re different to you in terms of day-to-day basis, but it has been great.”
Dean’s every day is different to most. Working for Brose, a German automotive engineering company, the 23-year-old sees football as a bonus.
Dean said: “I’ve got a Masters in Engineering from four years at Loughborough University. Then I went into Brose.
“Now my job role is like an engineer and a supervisor. I look after somewhere between 70 to 100 people on a day-to-day basis and it’s a nice balance. Each day is very different and I enjoy it. I made a decision at a pretty young age and, I’ll admit it, full-time football is not something I ever really was interested in.”
Dean was also given the honour of captaining England C when he came off the bench for the second half.
“That’s something I wasn’t expecting but I’m comfortable with,” said Dean, who is skipper at Nuneaton. “I love that responsibility and I think it gives you that extra edge on the pitch.”
