BURKETT IS BACK WITH NEW TALES FROM THE FOUR WALLS

IN Non-League football, fact is often stranger than fiction. Whispers that emerge from inside changing rooms and on the terraces beggar belief. And when you add in a mix of moneymen, underdogs, mercenaries and fanatics, it only adds to those stories.

One former Non-League player is now looking to put those stories to use. After playing for teams such as Stamford, Loughborough University and Peterborough Northern Star, Seth Burkett is turning his attention to the written word.

“I’ve always loved football and always loved writing”, he said. “Sometimes I’d hear something before a game or at training and think ‘I’ve got to write this down’“.

A chance encounter while playing for Stamford led Burkett to sign a professional contract in Brazil, an experience which was the subject of his first book, The Boy in Brazil.

“I’ve got so much to thank NonLeague football for,” Burkett reflects. “You come across so many wonderful characters, people who can’t do enough to help you. It’s where football is at its purest.”

Two more books have followed. This week, Burkett is set to release his fourth. No Final Whistle is aimed at readers aged 8-12. It tells the story of Alfie Bennett, a young footballer who signs for the famous Borough Academy.

“I wanted to write something that teaches young players the power of resilience”, said Burkett. “There are thousands of footballers up and down the country who play in academies. The vast majority of them will be released at some stage, but that doesn’t mean they can’t have a future in the game. One person’s opinion doesn’t equal fact.”

Success stories such as Jamie Vardy and Sam Clucas prove the power of bouncing back after rejection. Clucas provides the foreword to the book, and Burkett readily admits that his experiences form the backbone of the narrative. “I’ve picked up so many incredible stories over the years”, he smiles, “it would be a shame to waste them.” No Final Whistle is published by Scratching Shed and retails at £7.99.