Tony Pulis recently called time on a long and successful career in football, but it could have all been very different for the Welshman who came through the ranks at Bristol Rovers.
The 65-year-old enjoyed a good career with the Gas, Newport County, Bournemouth and Gillingham as a player before going on to manage at the top level, leading Stoke City to the Premier League and an FA Cup final in a memorable era for the club from 2006-13.
Born and raised in Newport, Pulis was spotted by Rovers as a teenager and went on to play 150 times for the club across two spells in the 1970s and 1980s, but his route into the professional game was challenging.
