ONE successful career in a lifetime? Brilliant. But three? That seems like an over indulgence. Not for ex-Claret Paul Fletcher. The bigger the challenge - the better.

A super football career has been followed with arguably even greater accolades in the worlds of after dinner speaking and sports stadia construction.

Scoring the goal of the century against Leeds United in 1974 in front of 40,000 die hard Yorkshiremen with a spectacular overhead kick, represented one of the highlights. But to oversee some of the finest state of the art football stadiums around the country, with budgets of millions, is a responsibility handed to very few individuals.

Paul said: "I will always be grateful to Burnley FC for introducing me to three different careers. Firstly, I thoroughly enjoyed the playing side. I looked on it as joy to come into work, a pleasure, because I didn't look on it as a job.

"Up until my injury, when I suffered a serious knee problem, I learnt about the importance of team ethic. At Burnley we had a wonderful side in the 70's and everything was so professional. In order to play well as an individual, you needed guys around who you could rely on. Everybody functioning like a well oiled machine. I brought this concept into other aspects of my life.

"Secondly, I saw how the commercial department was becoming increasingly important. I didn't fancy staying in the game as a manger or coach and after spending time with Jack Butterfield, who was the commercial manager at Turf Moor at the time, I decided this was the area I would like to get involved with.

"And lastly, I've talked about the club for the last 20 years through my after-dinner speaking engagements, the highlight being the guest speaker at the PFA awards dinner alongside Rory Bremner and Sir Bobby Charlton."

Fletch arrived at Burnley from Bolton Wanderers. Excellent in the air, he had a special ability in retaining the ball. Some would say that his glutimous maximus was responsible, so difficult did opponents find it to dispossess him.

He was respected by team-mates and fans alike, and his personality kept everyone buoyant in the dressing room. An integral member of the side. After gaining England U23 honours he was mentioned as potential full England material before injury took its toll.

"I got into the after-dinner speaking scene a little by accident," said Paul, now 52. "I'd started reading Dale Carnegie's book on "How to win friends and influence people" and I enrolled on one of his courses.

"After five weeks, something happened that simply changed my whole outlook on life. A circle was drawn on a large board with the letters CZ in the middle, by the instructor Brendan Fitzmaurice. COMFORT ZONE. He was talking about me.

"As a footballer I had been wrapped up in cotton wool, everything had been done for me then he said "Where do life's opportunities lie- inside or outside your comfort zone?" From then on I decided never to shy away from a challenge.

"Luckily I also met Mike King, a marvellous comedian. He invited me to a beauty competition and at the end of the night asked me to say a few words. I was pleased to do so. Out of the CZ. And that was the start"

Fletch was Commercial Manager at Huddersfield Town when the building of a new stadium was first muted. Disasters at Bradford and Hillsborough brought out the Taylor Report which listed the criteria needed for newly constructed Sports Stadia.

"I joined the club with the strict understanding that I would have nothing to do with the new stadium. But all that changed after six months when a new chairman was elected and put me in charge. I made a couple of conditions. One was that George Binns, the old secretary who had been with the club for 30 years or more, would be drafted in as my right hand man and secondly that after George and I had made decisions, the board would back us to the hilt.

"This meant we could make bold decisions, keep the project moving forward, without unnecessary delays and complications.

Fletch, affectionately known as 'Top Hatter' in his Burnley days, managed the McAlpine Stadium for the next two years but his reputation was growing and Bolton Wanderers were continually asking his advice during the initial stages of their brand new Reebok Stadium development. Eventually he was persuaded to join that project. Many complex issues had still to be resolved and Paul's experience was vital.

"Being involved with major projects, I have a lot of knowledge, probably because of the mistakes I've made. When I went to Bolton after Huddersfield I was aware of the many pitfalls and problems. Getting a good team around me, people who know what they are doing was vital.

"For example I got Tony Stephens to work three days a week. This guy was one of the early football agents. At that time he represented David Platt. Since then he has represented many of the big guns at the top of the profession - the likes of David Beckham, Alan Shearer, Dwight Yorke and Robbie Keane. So bringing in quality people into areas I didn't understand and have confidence in them, speeded up the process."

His latest project, the £114m Coventry Arena, is certainly the most challenging.

That project looked to be going under until Geoffrey Robinson, the Labour politician, got Paul involved.

"Firstly we've got a good relationship with the local authority. They will foot the entire bill. The facility will include a 70 bedroom hotel, a 140,000 square feet casino probably the biggest casino in the UK, half of which will be built under the stadium, a health and fitness club and three exhibition halls.

"Coventry City Football Club, who will kick off the 2005-06 season in these new surroundings, will lease the stadium 26 times a year and will not be burdened by a massive debt which has affected many clubs in similar positions. The 136 legal documents have now been signed by over 45 groups and the construction crews will be moving on site, Junction 3 off the M6 motorway, on the 7 January next year."

Paul's contract runs out in a couple of years, after which he is considering retirement. Surely not Fletch - with all that knowledge and expertise? No new ventures on the horizon?

"Well I want to spend more time with my family and the three grandchildren. There is a possibility I may do more on the motivational speaking circuit. I've also joined up with my old mate Steve Kindon in developing other speaking formats. We've done a few already and they have been well received.

"I must admit I've had a lot of satisfaction in my life and my wife Sian and I have just celebrated our 30th wedding anniversary. But as you know, nothing is easy. It's brilliant when you get a standing ovation from 500 people when a speech has gone down really well or accepting the cheers from the crowd when you get on the end of a Dave Thomas or Leighton James cross.

"But to get to those high points you have to suffer the embarrassment of missing a six-yard sitter or dying on your feet in some Working Men's club, 300 miles away from home.

"I've gone through the pain barrier just the same as everybody else. But I've met some wonderful people along the way and been to some marvellous places. Okay, yes I've suffered the hassles and the criticisms, made the mistakes but at least I've come out the other end and lived to fight another day. And I've enjoyed every minute. That's all anyone can ask for really isn't it?"

Somehow, I can't see Paul resting on that infamous glutimous maximus, just yet!