Step Down The Pyramid Brought The Best In Me
It was the transfer window. I had no club, I needed to make things happen. I had to move on and not feel sorry for myself. And stop moping around, as I had been.
Eventually, my mobile rang and it was a manager from a club in the Conference, a club that I hadn’t really heard much about. I didn’t have a clue where it was. I realised that beggars can’t be choosers.
It was a full-time club offering me better money than the local part-time clubs who had also shown interest. I rang the manager back and said that I was happy to sign as long as we could negotiate on a few things in the contract.
I just saw it as an opportunity, to take one step backwards in order to take two forward, and a season to stay fully fit and play regularly.
When I arrived, there was no one there to greet me. I just walked into the old changing rooms and introduced myself to all the lads. There was about 30 of them in the room, all squeezed in like sardines in a tin.
It was a real eyeopener, soon brought me back to reality and was light years away from the comfort zone that I had been in.
After trying to negotiate an extra £25 a week on my wages with the club’s secretary, I finally signed a ten-month contract. It meant that I got the extra £25 a week but I wasn’t given a full 52- week deal.
When the season finished, I wouldn’t be paid for the months I was off … unless I signed a one-year option. Apparently, this was one of the chairman’s tricks and he was renowned for it. He would do this with the younger lads.
I may sound like a snob, with my less than flattering description of this ground and its lack of facilities. But every young kid has aspirations of playing at the highest level, in front of big crowds every week, and of training with the best coaches.
When the transfer window is open, it releases a mixture of emotions … anxiety, fear, excitement, elation. Players in Non-League are in a completely different position to those at the top of the football pyramid, who will often relish a move.
For players in Non-League, it can be very unsettling and daunting. I’ve experienced this. Spending a few months living in a nice hotel isn’t as glamorous as it sounds and living out of the back of my car for pretty much half a season wasn’t exactly healthy.
Each of the aforementioned emotions, from time to time, became magnified. I had started to play some of the best football of my career.
This is what makes Non-League football so special. Seeing the hardcore fans turn up week in, week out regardless of the weather or opposition.
I have relished every moment. Ultimately, it encourages you to work even harder to try to accomplish your objective of playing at the highest level you can.
Read The Secret Non-League Footballer’s column at www.thesecretfootballer.com
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