Former Chelsea ace Steve Sidwell reveals clause in Premier League stars’ contract that ‘nobody has ever exercised’
PETER CROUCH and Steve Sidwell have revealed the one clause in a Premier League stars’ contract that “nobody has ever exercised”.
Sidwell, 41, played for the likes of Chelsea, Aston Villa, Fulham and Brighton.
Ex-Premier League star Steve Sidwell has revealed some bizarre clause in his contractNews Group Newspapers Ltd
YouTube/That Peter Crouch PodcastHe appeared on the Peter Crouch Podcast this week[/caption]
He hung up his boots in 2018 and has since become a pundit for TNT Sports.
Sidwell is also a regular on That Peter Crouch Podcast alongside the popular ex-England striker.
He has previously revealed how he has switched football kits for kitting out office spaces in a lucrative side hustle.
Crouch and co-host Chris Stark have been left in stitches over Sidwell’s Babestation prank on former Reading team-mate Glen Little in the past.
But on the latest podcast episode they discussed clauses in footballers’ contracts.
Former midfielder Sidwell had brought in a copy of one of his old deals for Stark to examine and discuss.
That then led to the clause section coming up, and Sidwell quickly dispelled one common myth that many believe is part of a player’s contract.
He said: “Do you know what? It’s a funny one because a lot of people say, and you’ll have this question, is it in your contract that you can’t go skiing or you can’t go on a jet ski?
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“And I’m like, I always used to say, yeah, I think it is in there somewhere, or like it be you can’t partake in dangerous activities. But actually looking through it, I can’t see it.”
The conversation continued as Stark revealed a strange one regarding holidays – to which Crouch, 43, revealed he had never taken up his full allowance.
Stark said: “One of the clauses here says, if the player wishes to travel outside the United Kingdom during the season, he must first obtain the permission of the head coach.
“So, they can reject you from going on holidays. You have to declare what your holiday is.”
Ex-Liverpool and England striker Crouch revealed how they would often have to “hand our passports in” to the club before Sidwell shed more light on the clause.
He explained: “I think that one there is in the case of if the player is playing up and just wants to get out of the club and the club can play hardball by going, well, you can have a day off, but you can’t go, do you know what I mean?
“You can’t go home. I think that’s one of them ones there. That’s one of them clauses.”
Sidwell continued: “There is a holiday clause in there that says you are allowed five, I think it’s five consecutive weeks.”
That stunned Crouch, who replied: “Really? God, no way, because sometimes I’ve got three weeks.”
Sidwell responded: “Yeah, I think it was you’re entitled to five consecutive weeks.”
That led to another clause being discussed – although Crouch says no player “ever exercised it”.
Sidwell said: “I think there was a maternity one in there as well.”
Crouch replied: “I think there is one in there, yeah. I don’t think anyone’s ever exercised that. I think, yeah, you can be there for the birth. But you’re back in the next day.
“I mean, I remember all of the kids that were born when I was still playing. I went to the birth and then I’ll train next day or play the next day.”
Crouch is married to model Abbey Clancy and they have two daughters, Sophia Ruby, 13, and Liberty Rose, nine, and two boys, Johnny, six, and four-year-old Jack.
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