Jay Tabb's incredible life since retirement as he seeks dream job as stable lad

THERE seems to be no limit to Jay Tabb’s talents.

The diminutive ex Ipswich, Coventry, Reading and Brentford star was anything but a stereotypical footballer.

A fan of classical music and a dab hand at the piano, Tabb was no real lover of the game and looked forward to his retirement.

And the 5ft 8in former midfielder has taken it to the next level by seeking out a dream career as a stable lad.

Not that horse racing has been his sole interest after hanging up his boots.

Since retiring at 32 in 2016, Tabb has:

• Worked as a builder with his dad
• Been one game away from Twickenham after playing rugby in Wimbledon.
• Caddied on the European Ladies Tour
• Signed up for a gruelling 12-week course at Doncaster’s Northern College of Racing.

“Dad works for himself and I was helping him with everything from fitting bathrooms and kitchens to full-on house renovations”, he said.

“I didn’t have any skills so just did what he told me to do, but it was just nice to build that relationship again after seeing him maybe once a month playing football.

Dad works for himself and I was helping him with everything from fitting bathrooms and kitchens to full-on house renovations.

“It was a nice life, working to Monday to Friday and having a few beers at the end of the week before rugby on Saturday.

“I was born into a rugby family and and half way through my career I was like: ‘Right, as soon as my football is done, I’m playing rugby - no matter what.’

“I played for Old Wimbledonians as a wing or full-back and made my debut alongside my brother and cousins. But sods law I tore my ligament in my knee in my first game and was out for six months.

“I came back and last year we played in a national competition and were one match away from Twickenham!

“We played a cup game in 2017 on the Isle of White. We won, but I missed every kick! At the end of the match I got singled out for d*** of the day.

"Our captain stood up and talked about how I had played football for 15 years, played in the Premier League, but couldn’t kick a ball over the post.

“I got plenty of banter for that and then had to down a pint as punishment.

“I loved the dressing room and the banter though. You take all the hits on a Saturday and you love it, and you forget about it after over a few beers, but then on Sunday you can hardly move.

“Once, I went round to a 1st birthday party for a friend’s child, and I turned up with black eyes and could hardly lift his baby.”

Tabb, 35, paid £240-a-year to play but recently fractured his shoulder, which still hasn't recovered, and his rugby career is on hold for now.

He is also a mad-keen golfer –he plays off five and won the BMW PGA Championship Celebrity Pro-Am in 2014- and even leant his services as a caddy at his local club.

Tabb is a member at Wimbledon Park Golf Club and managed to get an invite to carry the clubs across the globe on the Ladies European Tour.

He added: “The daughter of a guy I play with is Lauren Horsford, a pro who had a card for the tour.

“I doubted she would be hiring caddies so I sent her dad a message and asked if she would be interested.

“She was well up for it so I ended up going to Thailand, Spain and caddying for her in the US Open qualifying.

“It really was fun but there wasn’t much I could say to her, she’s the pro!

“It was something that might have turned into a career, but my heart was always set on horses and racing.”

Tabb has just started the intense 12-week course in Doncaster – but he had to shift over two stone after an indulgent festive period.

He developed a love of racing when rooming with Ben Turner –now at Mansfield- at Coventry, who put it on the TV when on pre-season.

After asking a few questions he was hooked, and it wasn’t long before he was involved in a syndicate owning a horse.

His passion took off from there, and he and Turner bought Mister Miyagi, who has raced at the Cheltenham festival and pocketed the pair £55,000 in winnings.

Reflecting on how difficult it has been getting up to speed before starting in Doncaster, Tabb said: “The max weight limit is 11st in your riding hat, boots and body protector.

“I was just under 13st after Christmas but I’m now at 10st 8lbs thanks to the gym and intermittent fasting of only eating between midday and 8pm. The weight has dropped off but it’s been a real challenge, but it’s good to be strict on yourself.

“And I’d never ridden a horse before so to get a head start I booked some lessons and learned to ride on Wimbledon Common.

“I haven’t fallen off yet, but I will soon! It’s very dangerous, you only need to look at the falls that jockeys take.

“And there’s a big difference between riding a village stable horse and a thoroughbred race horse.

“It’s a slow process at the College but I won’t be happy until I’ve gone up a gallop with a racehorse and enjoyed it.”

Despite dipping his toes into various sports since retirement, Tabb is dead-set on working in racing for life.

The course is predominantly for kids who leave school at 16, and includes six weeks of work experience at a professional yard after.

Having your hand wiping a horses arse all day, you’ve got to really want to do it!

And Tabb is already learning the hard way as just how physically and mentally demanding the work is.

He added: “There was a discussion on The Opening Show on ITV about the staffing crisis in racing so there are obviously jobs out there, and I think it’s something I’ll be good at.

“The first few days have been really hard though, you literally don’t stop.

“I’ve got two big blisters on the inside of my thumbs from sweeping the yard, mucking out and holding brooms for hours. Having your hand wiping a horses arse all day, you’ve got to really want to do it!

“My legs are killing me but hopefully you get used to it, and the reward is being sat on the back of a horse.

“I’m too old for being a jockey but if I’m any good and the opportunity arises I’d like to ride in an amateur or charity race.”

If the Tooting-born Tabb doesn’t sound like a stereotypical footballer, it’s because he isn’t.

After 450 appearances across four clubs and a spell in the top-flight with Reading, retirement came easy and there is very little about his former profession he misses.

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He said: “I loved being a pro-footballer and the interaction with the fans. At Millwall whenever I went to warm up they’d all start singing the Snow White song ‘Heigh ho, heigh ho’ at me.

“Our fitness coach at Ipswich loved it and when I sat back on the bench ,once he got me to go and warm up against just so he could hear the song again!

“That and playing in front of 30,000 people was great, but I didn’t love the physical act of football, and sometimes I went out and just didn’t want to play.”

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