Your Stories: From Manchester United footballer to Travel Counsellor

James Weir speaks to Samantha Mayling about why he became a travel agent and looks back at his football career

Q. How did you become a travel agent?
I was working in Europe, but was missing family and friends, so I thought it was time to transition to a new career. A friend worked at Travel Counsellors’ head office and we had a chat on New Year’s Eve 2023. I then went to a ‘discovery day’ at head office. I love travel; I like planning and organising trips and I’m fascinated about the world, so I thought it was a great fit. I had two weeks of intensive training – systems, suppliers and marketing. Learning about places is fascinating and putting together quotes and itineraries is exciting. My mentor helps me with admin and systems. There’s so much support; you’ve always got somewhere to turn if you’re struggling.

Q. What was your first booking?
My brother had just turned 40 and he went to Grand Velas, a luxury hotel in Los Cabos, Mexico. I started selling to family and friends and it’s gone beyond that now. I’ve sold a Monaco trip to a mate from football. I launched in March but by the time I got into the swing of things, it was May and June, which is the football holiday season – so footballers had already booked. But it’s my plan to get into that market.

It’s a contrast to being in a football team

Q. What have you been selling?
My favourite booking was a honeymoon along South Africa’s Garden Route, staying in some lovely places, finishing in the Maldives for five nights. It was tailor-made to their needs – they’re big wine fans. I loved it. I’ve never been to South Africa and, after booking it, I thought: “I need to go there.” So I’m visiting later this year. I’ve made a 2026 Sandals booking – another multi-centre combining Grenada and Barbados. A slightly different one was a summer family walking holiday in the Austrian Alps. I’ve booked Portugal, and Greece is popular – lots of high-end resorts where you get good value for money, especially in the shoulder seasons. Safaris are also popular. I’m now working on a three-week itinerary to Australia, which is so exciting.

Q. How have you settled into homeworking?
It’s a contrast to being in a football team. I live in Preston, about 35 minutes from Travel Counsellors’ head office in Manchester. We have a lot of supplier days at head office which I can nip to. The Travel Counsellors conference will be in Manchester and a good opportunity to meet fellow homeworkers. I’ve met quite a few, which is great, because you do get lonely sometimes at home. It is nice to bounce ideas off each other and to chat about what’s going on, even away from travel. I’m looking forward to the conference in November – and it’s the 30th anniversary, so by all accounts, it should be a pretty big one.

I’m trying to tap into my contacts in football to see if I can help staff and players

Q. Where do you go on your holidays?
I went on a Celebrity Cruises fam trip to Miami, the Bahamas and Key West on Celebrity Reflection. I’ve been to Tanzania with my mum, and my wife and I went to Botswana and the Seychelles for our honeymoon.

I’ve been all over the US, plus Belize, Costa Rica and Japan. And I’ve been on golf holidays and lots of active trips, as I don’t like sitting down too long. I am going to Corfu in September and then South Africa in November/December. The beauty of Travel Counsellors is it’s so flexible. They have buddy cover, so you arrange that with a fellow travel counsellor.

Q. How do you market yourself?
By social media and word-of-mouth recommendations. I’m also starting to go to networking events in Preston. I play golf and padel tennis, so I’m always meeting new people and chatting about travel. I’m trying to tap into my contacts in football to see if I can help staff and players. I want to do more sports travel: organising travel to events and for ex-teammates who want high-end travel. I’m enjoying the travel industry – I’ve not struggled with the transition. I love what I’m doing because it is so social. You have got to be a part of the community, whereas in football, you’re in your own little bubble.

Tell us about your football career

I had an amazing career. It could’ve been better, but I have no regrets. I appeared as a substitute for Manchester United in one game [in 2016]. It was so competitive and so hard to get chances. The brief substitute appearance was one of the best moments in my career. I had many great teammates over the years, such as Scott McTominay, Luke Shaw, Jordan Pickford, John Stones and Marcus Rashford. I played for Hull and Bolton too, but injuries got the better of me, which forced me to go abroad, to Slovakia and Hungary, to seek out regular football. But after so many operations, it got to a point where I couldn’t play.

A lot of companies employ sports professionals because you have structure, discipline and competitiveness – that ‘never give in’ spirit. You can take that into travel: set a structure to the week; make sure you get tasks done; and if you don’t get a booking over the line, don’t let it ruin your week. These things happen. As Roger Federer says, ‘On to the next point.’ I think that’s a good way to live.