‘I’ve had to dig so deep to make it’
I WAS at Nottingham Forest as a youngster, but they didn’t offer me a professional contract, so I headed to the Glenn Hoddle Academy in Spain. That was an incredible experience.
Living abroad at 18, a different culture and lifestyle, I think it helped me as a person and a footballer. Glenn came out quite a bit, he took over a club and we had the chance to play competitive games for them. It was more technical.
I came back after 18 months and had a couple of brief spells at clubs before I joined Histon. It didn’t really work out and I went on loan to King’s Lynn before joining them permanently. That was the first club I settled at, I played over 100 games for them. We won promotion and I loved every minute.
I also did a sports science degree at Loughborough University at the same time.
Then I got the chance to go full-time with Chester in the Conference in January 2015. When I played I felt I did well, but I never got a run of games and eventually joined FC United after a loan spell.
I loved that club, the fans, everything about it. To have that many fans home and away, there’s not many clubs like that. I spent a year and a half there and scored bang on 20 goals in my only full season.
At the end of the year, the gaffer at Harrogate came in and said ‘what’s your situation, we’re going full-time?’.
We’ve had three unbelievable years since, culminating in our win at Wembley last weekend. Scoring in that game and everything that happened – I can’t actually believe it. When people talk to be about it, it still gives me tingles. When we went back to the nearby Hilton afterwards, we had a do up on the rooftop. It wasn’t messy, but it was a really good night.
I can’t wait for next season. I always thought I was good enough to hold my own in the Football League and now I’ve got that opportunity.
I’ve had ups and downs, like everyone has, but I’m quite proud of myself. I’ve always seemed to dig in. I’ve done well to get to where I am now with the route I’ve been on – it’s been a long journey.