Bournemouth fullback Adam Smith admits he can find football a “grind”.
Smith has just signed a new deal to 2025, but concedes he doesn’t always enjoy his career.
He said to the club’s website: “It’s just a bit of everything.
“The stress of being in a relegation battle every season. I think this is my eighth season in the Premier League and every season we have been in a relegation battle – it is stressful.
“Even when we were in the Championship, we are expected to get promoted, so it is always very stressful.
“It is obviously a privilege to be in the Premier League and fighting to get promoted.
“And then just when you get older, do you still enjoy your job after doing it for so long?
“It isn’t just the pressure, but the abuse. It is grinding. Maybe I’m being too honest, but the abuse players get… no other industry gets it.
“You wouldn’t walk down the street and abuse a trader or something but if you are a footballer you get abused left, right and centre.
“Twitter, Instagram, at the stadium. I know I’m lucky to be a footballer but I just don’t think it is acceptable.
“I still enjoy it, but there are some moments where I don’t enjoy it.”
He continued: “It is grinding, it grinds you down.
“I try to stay off social media but for the younger lads it must be tough, the abuse they get. Even when you are out and about sometimes you get abused and we can’t be seen to react, which is even worse.
“I love football and enjoy it but there are some moments I wish I could have a little bit of a time out. You only get that in the summer but then you’re back to it.
“We get paid very good money so I’m not complaining.
“I don’t know how long I’m going to play. I do try to enjoy it and I enjoy the wins, definitely, and going home and spending time with the family.
“I love coming into training each day, seeing the lads and training hard.
“When we have got that winning feeling in front of the fans and the stadium is rocking, I love it. The adrenaline is what you want.
“But just that other side of it sometimes does grind you down and I’m sure it does with loads of other players, they just don’t want to say it maybe, I don’t know.
“I just try and ignore it. I’m sure some lads want to react, I definitely do sometimes. It doesn’t happen all the time, just now and again. It is the society we live in at the moment.”
Smith added, “Some days you think, why do I do it? But I’m sure you have that with every job, thinking ‘I don’t know if I want to do this’.
“Obviously we get paid great money, but money isn’t everything. It is your happiness. Everyone has those days, but I love football too much.”
