Many of us enjoy visiting our local non-league club at the weekend and during the week. We finish work, watch the match and head home ready for a new day. But what about the players who have to fit in their work commitments around the football? How do they do it?

The Echo will be speaking to non-league stars from across south Essex this season about how they juggle two of life’s most crucial aspects – work and football.

This week we speak to Canvey Island vice-captain John Easterford, 28, who was part of the Gulls side beaten by rivals East Thurrock United on Tuesday.

 

SATURDAY

I normally wake up around 9am on match day and go through the normal routine of having some breakfast and watching Soccer AM.

I always make the effort to go outside and give my boots a clean. Lots of lads in our changing room struggle with that – the likes of Doomz (Ashley Dumas) and the Southend kids – (Charlie) Barlow, Kingy (Dan King), Marlon (Agyakwa).

You can always count on these boys having dirty boots!

We don’t have a game today so we have been called into training early doors.

You ask any non-league footballer and I am sure everyone would rather play a match than train. Luckily for us Danny Heale is our manager.

I was thinking “surely Dan won’t make us run?” I have been in teams with Dan most of my non-league career and any sign of running Dan would be injured.

I was, of course, wrong.

Steve Ward took us on a running session followed by some shooting practice and we had a good session. We always have our worst trainer vote and it is normally between Rio Bryan-Edwards (Trigger) or Antony Thomas (Carlton Banks).

Every Saturday I pop into Maccy D’s and get myself some dinner and relax with my girlfriend Emma. She is currently seven months pregnant – so it won’t be long till there is a little Easterford with us!

 

SUNDAY

Rest day? I don’t think so! I spend most of the day doing jobs around the house trying to get everything ready for our baby that’s due in February.

I normally spend a good half hour on the phone with my old man talking about our game but today we just chat about other teams in our league.

 

MONDAY

I work for Aspect Contracts (the main sponsor of Concord Rangers) and have been for about four years now. I am the Health and Safety Manager and this is worlds apart from my football to be honest. The nature of the way I play doesn’t really go hand-in-hand with day job!

My job involves producing reports for the board as well as the day-to-day stuff under health and safety.

I will always have a good old chat with my boss Ant Smith (Concord chairman) about the weekend’s football.

I’m very lucky to have a boss that understands football and, if I need to leave early for a dreaded long distance away trip it’s no problem – unless I’m playing Concord then I have to stay in the yard and clean the dog’s mutt up!

My day normally finishes about 6am so I head home to get an early night so my preparation for East Thurrock is right.

 

TUESDAY

My superstitions start. I pack my football bag, then I empty it, then I re-pack it checking I have everything. I don’t know why but I’ve doing it for years. My mum would always stand and laugh!

I had a few meetings today so I try and get through as much work as possible in the day before I finish at 5pm.

I live on Canvey now so have no worries with travelling to the East Thurrock game. I had a loan spell there last season and I know what they are all about. They have a great management team in Covo (John Coventry), Jay (Devereux) and Joe (Keith) and I have a lot of time for these guys.

I was up against one of my team mates from last season Sam Higgins. But we have signed 6ft 5in giant Enoch (Showunmi) and I’m looking forward to seeing what the big man can produce.

These derby games are what’s it’s all about for me – two passionate teams going toe to toe.

The gaffer has assembled a great squad here. We have a good group and our togetherness will hopefully help us get those vital three points.

The game itself was a bit scrappy and the first goal was strange as no-one was quite sure what had happened. No-one celebrated and the ref didn’t give a goal. But the ball was in the back of our net!

Joe Carter produced a decent free kick to get us back to 1-1, but the winning goal came from a set piece and it was a free header in our six yard box. I'm still fuming about it now.

One positive was Enoch. He showed some great touches and hold up play and I’m looking forward to seeing more of the big man. I’m disappointed to have conceded two goals of course as a defender it’s my job to stop this from happening.

I got to bed around midnight, knowing I wasn’t going to be able to sleep with the adrenaline still running.

 

WEDNESDAY

This is the worst day of the week for me. I struggle to get going, my body is aching, but there is work to be done so I must get on.

The joys of being a non-league footballer!