But that wasn't the case."To discover that the stress experienced by footballers is minimal compared with other trades and professions in Britain comes as no surprise personally. As Dr Khan concludes, football managers take most of the strain. "It is why several have had heart attacks in the past two years," he added "The players are so laid back they are almost falling over. "Pressure from the crowds and referees, TV cameras on them all the time, and the general inspection of their lifestyle led us to expect that they suffered enormous levels of stress. Pandered to by the game's middle-class following, glorified in print and across the airwaves, they lose touch with reality. Now comes a survey to suggest that footballers do not suffer much stress either. It was conducted by a psychology lecturer, Dr Howard Khan of Heriot- Watt University, Edinburgh, who interviewed 512 players and 10 managers in the Scottish Premier and First Divisions."We thought we'd find that footballers have an extremely hard life," he said this week in the Daily Telegraph.

Those with a big name in the Premiership are paid more than some people get for running countries. They don't have to worry about the mortgage, health care, the gas bill or how their children will be educated. They still come from working-class backgrounds but it isn't long before they are voting with their wallets. It's a damned sight better than working on a hospital ward or an assembly line There are perils for sure, but boxers would laugh at them You can't beat the hours Most of the time footballers sleep late and get home early. It thus falls to the 25-year-old Pinsent to do the talking in the boat from the more demanding position at stern - something with which he is not completely at ease "I'm so out of breath now I can't say anything," he said.. As a labour force, footballers are hardly to be compared with coal miners, firefighters and oil riggers - no matter what you hear from their union.

It's a short career but show me a manual worker who wouldn't swap places. "I am about as sure that I want to carry on as Steve is sure that he wants to retire," he said. As they prepare for the international season, Redgrave and Pinsent have swapped places, with Redgrave taking over the bow. I am training hard, and if things go as planned in Atlanta I will be more than happy to walk away from the competitive side of the sport."I will probably get involved in coaching at some stage but not straight away. If you are coaching athletes and the thought is there that you could probably still beat them yourself it is not a good position to be in."Matthew Pinsent, with whom Redgrave will attempt to retain the coxless pairs title they won in Barcelona, plans to carry on after Atlanta. Had an outstanding amateur career, winning the English Amateur Championship in 1984 and the British Youths' Championship in 1986. A member ofthe victorious European Ryder Cup team at Oak Hill, Rochester, last September.

One of thequietest players in golf, Gilford's hobby is tending a herd of Hereford cattle. Now has 40 animals but says that, because of the worries over BSE, they are virtually worthless.. Rowing MIKE ROWBOTTOM Steven Redgrave plans to end his career after competing for an unprecedented fourth Olympic rowing title in Atlanta this summer.Speaking at the launch of a Barclaycard Visa scheme to provide pounds 500,000 worth of training camp support for Britain's Olympic and Paralympic athletes, the 34-year-old oarsman said: "I plan to retire after the Olympics I've been rowing now for 20 years. On the basis of finishing in the top 10 in the European Order of Merit, Gilford was invited to his first Masters last year when he came joint 24th, thus automatically gaining readmission for Augusta. A student of biochemistry at Stirling University, he had the time of his life last year, winning the Amateur Championship at Hoylake, finishing fourth in the Scottish Open at Carnoustie and joint 40th in the Open at St Andrews Is getting wiser by the minute. At a party here on Monday evening he was approached by a woman who asked him:"Is everything about you in proportion to your size?" "No," Sherry replied, "I should be 8ft 6in."David GilfordBorn: CreweAge: 30Turned professional 1986. Sherry, at 6ft 8in and a slimmed- down 17st, is probably the largest player ever to have appeared in the Masters.

Although he had no chance of winning the tournament, the crowd flocked to him during the final round and gave him a standing ovation. Resumed normal service on the US Tour this season: played three, missed cuts three.Gordon SherryBorn: KilmarnockAge: 22Is playing in his first Masters and will turn professional as the ink dries on his first contract next Monday. Haas has nine victories on the US Tour and has played in the Masters on 15 occasions. Finished joint third last year, has appeared in the top five on three occasions and once shot 64 here.Ian Baker-FinchBorn: Nambour, AusAge: 35Turned professional 1979. Baker-Finch won the Open Championship at Royal Birkdale in 1991 since when the only cut he has made has been while shaving Actually, that's not true. In the Canon Challenge in Australia this year Baker-Finch got beyond the second round for the first time in 17 months, surprising everybody including himself.