I’m a former Premier League star – now I’m a scout for Arsenal while playing in seventh tier

11 months ago 73

JAMES PERCH played in the Premier League and in Europe while plying his trade for Newcastle just over a decade ago.

Now aged 38, he has gone part-time in order to work for Arsenal as a scout on the side.

Perch continued to play in the EFL for Mansfield up to the end of last season and was even offered a new deal to stay full-time with the Stags.

The experienced defender snubbed the offer, however, in order to go part time with seventh-tier Ilkeston.

“It’s not full-time, so it’s flexible for me to do my other stuff on the side and it just worked out well,” Perch told the Mirror.

On juggling playing for Ilkeston with his work for the Gunners, he added: “I scout for Arsenal now, so on the days where I’m not training, some of the nights I go to games and scout players.

“I try to do the best for Arsenal and get the club the best young players and the best players for the first team.

“I am really enjoying it and it was an opportunity which came my way and I took it.

“That’s why it works perfect playing part-time because I can scout for Arsenal on the side and play for Ilkeston on a Saturday.”

Perch has been tasked with identifying the very best talent in the Under-14s age group.

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On a Saturday he then laces up his boots in the Northern Premier League.

During his pomp Perch joined Newcastle from Nottingham Forest for £1million.

He helped the Toon to a fifth place finish in 2012 under Alan Pardew.

And the following season he helped his side to the quarter-finals of the Europa League.

Perch later played for Wigan and Queens Park Rangers, as well as Scunthorpe and Mansfield.

In addition to helping to accommodate his work for Arsenal, Perch was convinced to join Ilkeston by their manager and former youth team pal Ian Deakin.

On what he hopes to do after eventually hanging up his boots for good, he concluded: “I want to stay in football and go as high as I can.

“I would love to be a director of football or a technical director, so hopefully that’s one I will aim for.”