Back in 2005, I was 29 and on a cold, dark night in Scotland, I just couldn’t get out of my car to go and sell insurance. This was my livelihood and I just couldn’t do it. I never knew it back then but I later realised and now understand that I was completely and utterly consumed by depression.
Why? I had an amazing family, great pay and a nice home but I strangely felt, at that moment in time, that I was the loneliest guy on earth. Nobody knew. No one.
I needed a change. I needed to do something that I enjoyed for a living.
I lost my father in an accident when I was 21 and became a father for the 1st time the day after his funeral. I retired from being a pro hockey player when I was only 23, I had to get a "real job" as I now had a family to support.
I played a bit of beer league now and again to stay involved but I REALLY missed playing full time.
I would sit in my car and cry most nights. Then I gave myself a shake one night, and decided that something to do with ice-hockey would make me happy. But what? I’ve always loved a good tilt on the ice but I also knew that I had a different kind of fight on my hands to get me out of the position I was in.
That night in my car, GLOVES OFF® was born. For weeks upon weeks I would sit in my car instead of working and do sketches and slogans. I wanted to build a brand that was connected to ice-hockey but also had another meaning and it had to be a positive one too!
Since that night I have had to go through many ups and downs, a change of career to become a time served joiner because I simply didn’t have the courage to start GLOVES OFF®.
After the loss of my father-in-law who was my other dad, marriage problems, a 2nd bout of diagnosed serious depression, along with many other mental struggles like 3 separate spine operations (due to my dodgy hockey career) I had to seek professional help which I am now not ashamed to admit, ever.
My struggles were no different to anyone else’s, no more severe or any less either, but they were mine.
All this made me say: “screw this I’m going to bring GLOVES OFF® out of the darkness and into the light for EVERYONE to enjoy!" With the help and support from my wife Shirley I set up GLOVES OFF LTD in February 2014, constantly striving and building it up to make this exact website you are on, a reality!
We must wear GLOVES OFF® with pride.
Every adversity carries with it,
the seed of a greater or equivalent benefit!
Scott Plews #24