by Salvatore Boemi

Since COVID-19, Gregory Hartley, an English former goalkeeper, has experienced different challenges and he talks about how he dealt with lockdown.

The lockdown has been tough for everyone and since then any footballer could lack of motivation during training and to stay focus on the game.

He said: ‘The methodology change in terms of motivations, a lot of people have lost motivations since the lockdown, everyone was locked down in the house and was hard to switch mentally and motivate myself was the biggest challenge for me and fitness wise I had to work extra hard and this was very difficult for everybody.’

His professional career is unique as he progressed through Manchester City academy with the desire to be a professional footballer with the Light Blues to moving to America for seven years where he studied at Georgia Gwinnet College.

Furthermore, he had the possibility to win the FA Youth Cup and to play alongside Kasper Schmeichel, Joe Hart and Kieran Trippier.

He said: ‘ I think that is one of my biggest accolades, especially with the team, it was a special moment and to learning from them and experience from them was special. It was a special year to learning from them.’

After his move to America, joining Latics in 2017, he helped constantly the first team throughout his last season whilst he was playing as a semi-professional footballer.

On the 14th August 2019, Greg Hartley was appointed as first- team goalkeeping coach at Oldham Athletic and since then is currently working even during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Listen to the full interview: