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But for AFC Bournemouth’s Lewis Cook and Adam Smith, this has gone one step further – the pair have, this week, opened up a barber shop together in Canford Cliffs. Grade 92 opened its doors on Monday on the corner of Haven Road and Elmstead Road as the pair joined forces with business owners James Gura-Lowe and Kieran Birch. Cook said the road to opening the shop started when he started having his hair cut by Gura-Lowe when he joined the in 2016.
“James started cutting all the lads’ hair and then came to us with his business partner Kieran and just said, do you want to go and open up a shop in Canford Cliffs?” Cook told the Daily Echo. “I think Smudge will say that he pushed the idea onto James, which I think he did, to be fair. “He had a good idea to try and get one in the area and it’s good for us and the lads as well to get their hair cut somewhere local.
” Footballers often go into business as they look to the future beyond their playing careers. and 'huge honour' skippering side Cook explained: “I never thought I would be opening a barber shop, but some of us try and diversify. “I think as a footballer's career is very short, you've just got to try and do things wisely and try and spread stuff around and open different stuff.
“It was a good opportunity. It was exciting as well and fun, so something we wanted to try and do.” Smith added: “This is the first retail business that I've gone into, so it was something that I wanted to try for sure.
“It made it a little bit easier doing it with Lew because obviously I play with him, I'm good friends with him. So, it's kind of a no brainer and it just keeps us busy after training and it's nice not to always think about football.” On if any of their teammates are investing in any other businesses, Smith laughs and says a couple have invested in some crypto currency – but Cook said the group is sensible and, crucially, well advised.
Many of the squad have been into the shop and are already clients of Gura-Lowe, but they are hoping to get more in as many live in the Canford Cliffs area. One player both hope to get in is Milos Kerkez – as he currently gets his hair cut by Justin Kluivert. “Milos turned up one day training with a crazy haircut like he has done and we found out that Justin had been cutting his hair and just on a little upside-down bin in the toilets at footie,” Cook said.
“It's crazy to be honest. “I said to him, Milos should come down here to get his haircut by one of the barbers here or even get Justin cutting Milos’ hair in one of the chairs.” Smith added: “I think we're going to get them down next week and we're going to film it, so it should be quite entertaining!” The shop also has an academy, with Smith explaining: “We've got an academy to produce new barbers and also we've got a cosmetic bit at the back that if guys want facials or anything like that they can get.
“Because I think it's lacking, especially around here. There's a lot of ladies’ salons but there's not many places where men could go and feel safe going into these places and asking for them certain things.” On business so far, Cook said it had been good.
“Obviously I think most barbers have got their own clients that are loyal and will follow them,” he said. “Obviously it will take a few more months to get fully established, but I think with the shop how it is at the moment and hopefully the service is top so we can keep trying to progress it.” The shop might be the first of many, with Smith saying: “If it goes well, then we would definitely look at other areas for sure.
“But we need to see how this goes first!”.
