I HAVE been involved in non-league football for 25 years now.

I was playing for Canvey Island reserves between 1992 and 1996 but then Kingy (former owner Jeff King) brought over all the superstars like Steve Tilson so we all went over to Concord Rangers. I have been there ever since.

It is a real family atmosphere at the club and that struck me straight away. I played for the first team and managed the reserves for a while before I badly injured my ankle and was out of the game for a while.

But I had the chance to play for the veterans team and it was a great laugh. I was one of the younger ones but we all got on so well.

Then I became the manager and it is weird how it worked out. I have been involved in some capacity or another at the club for so long.

The pitch looks great now but I remember it 20 years ago when it was a quagmire.

I was always down there and one day Ant (Smith - chairman) asked if I wanted to join the committee. I was doings bits and pieces anyway - I used to lay sand over the pitch in front of the goals, so I decided to give it a go.

There is always stuff to do down there - Cliff (Larkin) and I did the stand behind the goal. I have done plenty of concreting as well and helped do up the clubhouse.

I have so many funny memories, but hardly any of it is suitable for print! One of the best moments was beating Lowestoft on the road in the 2013 play-off final.

The away trips are always good, but it is not even just the football that makes non-league so special.

I have made friends for life at the club. Ant is always taking me out and he has shared some great moments with us all. I don’t ask for it, but it is great. We often go to Portugal to play golf and have had some unforgettable memories.

Without Ant’s money the club wouldn’t be where it is, it’s as simple as that.

To think of the club playing against London APSA to us now being in the National League South...it is crazy, but this is non-league and just one reason we all love it!