SOUTHEND United’s highly-rated left-back Ben Coker will complete a remarkable turnaround when he takes on Wycombe Wanderers at Wembley on Saturday.

Just two years ago, the defender combined working on a building site in Cambridge with playing non-league football for Histon.

But, since joining the Shrimpers in the summer of 2013, Coker has rebuilt his career.

And he wants to enhance his growing reputation in the game by helping Phil Brown’s side win promotion.

“It’s been an up-and-down journey for me over the years but hopefully now it's on the up and it will stay that way,” said Coker.

“Coming from non-league it’s a massive achievement for me to be running out in front of 40,000 or 50,000 fans at Wembley and I’m really excited about it.

“I was always confident in my ability if I was given that chance but I just didn’t want to stay in non-league for too long because otherwise you can get forgotten about.

“I just had to focus and keep working hard on and off the pitch until I got a chance and thank God I did at Southend.”

Coker also played for Chelmsford City before being released by Colchester United in February 2013.

And it was around that time he began to pursue a career away from football.

“I worked on the labouring side for about six to eight months,” said Coker. “It was in Cambridge and it was really good for me at the time.

“I think it makes you appreciate being a professional footballer even more too.”

Coker has certainly made the most of the opportunity, playing 89 times during two seasons with Southend, despite suffering a serious elbow injury earlier on this season.

But the defender has since regained form and fitness and is bidding for more of the same in tomorrow’s final which he knows will be another stern test.

“Wycombe are a very good team,” said Coker.

“They’re physical and play for set pieces so it will be tough but I think we do have the quality to beat them.”