Footy star Dale Thomas finds freedom in a fresh new career
While many ex-footballers write memoirs filled with tales of off-season mischief, Dale Thomas has penned a children’s book he hopes will help parents and kids.
Fiona Byrne
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The messy side of fatherhood has inspired Collingwood star Dale ‘Daisy’ Thomas’s first book.
While many ex-footballers write memoirs full of tales of off-season mischief, Thomas, inspired by his daughter, Tilly, 5, has penned Poopy Pants and Potty Rants, a book he hopes will help parents and kids toilet train with a smile.
“It is a little bit cheeky, it is pretty informative, I think, and hopefully the kids and parents who read it can get a bit of a chuckle out of it,” Thomas said.
“I am pretty happy to be dancing around the kitchen in a Frozen dress or whatever it takes to try and make Tilly’s childhood as enjoyable as possible.
“I am really conscious of making that effort to be there for Matilda as much as I can and be a really positive influence on her life.”
Thomas retired from football at the end of 2019. He is enjoying post-footy life and the opportunities, like writing Poopy Pants, it brings.
“It is the freedom to be yourself which the restraints of professional sport don’t allow you to do,” he said.
“And by that I mean you don’t have to toe the company line.
“When you are a footballer people are always wanting you to show more of your authentic self, but as soon as you do you are called a flog or an idiot and they hate you, so you may as well toe the company line to save yourself the drama and the backlash.”
Poopy Pants and Potty Rants (RRP $19.95) is published by Allen & Unwin and will be released on Tuesday, September 29.
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