UK 8th Tier
Came back to London after Uni (played 1st team) to work and went to train with a local semi pro team (8th tier). Did well in the reserves and started training with main team. Got into the squad after a couple of training sessions. Debut off the bench in an FA Cup qualifying round. Debut start was the next qualifying round which we lost 1-0. Got a mild injury that I was out for a few months with.
By the time I came back to the team and the manager had been sacked. Luckily the reserve team manager was promoted who knew me. Managed to get into the team pretty regularly from there. I was working quite an intense job in finance, but they were great with me. I worked late and sometimes I would turn up to midweek matches at half time to potentially used as a second half sub.
Moved to the other end of London for work and socialising. Assumed I would be able to get into another team but most teams of that level were fairly far away and it was difficult to commit to. Went to train with one team for a handful of training sessions and the manager liked me, then he got sacked. New manager came in with his players and said he didn’t need me.
Then I never really got back into it at that level. Focussed on my job at the time which I didn’t enjoy and I’m not even in the industry anymore!
At that level you see so many academy kids that don’t make it. Football was a hobby to me, but they had been sold an expectation they would make it pro and were still trying. Felt sorry for a lot of them. Some incredible talent at that level
Thanks mate! Yeah I turned up to work with black eyes, limping, or crutches a good few times! Not fun when it starts hampering your daily life, but I suupose that can happy in Sunday league!