l 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 Concord Rangers winger JOE GARDNER, 24, who played a vital role in the 6-2 demolition of Barnet this week.

 

SATURDAY

I try to sleep as much as possible on Friday night/Saturday morning to compensate for the lack of sleep I get throughout the week! This normally means about 11/12 hours sleep and getting up about 11am.

Oggers (Gary Ogilvie) picks me up at about 12:45 and we make our way to the ground. Today we’re at home to Conference Premier leaders Barnet. I’m the changing room’s music man and normally before a game it’ll be house music although after the game, and a good result, some old RnB will go on so everyone can have a sing/rap!

Then Dan Cowley gives us the tactics and information on the game.

I’ve got so many superstitions and routines it’s ridiculous. Just counting them to mention in my email made me realise that I’m probably mental! The one that most people will see me do is – six knee to chest jumps, three bounces afterwards and then kick out my feet alternately right to left three times each. I do this right before kick-off at the beginning of the game and at kick-off of the second half.

We normally do some keep ups or kick ups along the row whilst everyone is sitting down and the person at the end of the row will try and finish by kicking the ball in a bin at the end! The last person to touch the ball when the changing room door opens gets a fine of £2. Sometimes we play a “Danny Cowley Special” where we continue to play the game until Dan opens the door, then the last person gets a £5 fine.

After completing my superstitious routines (all 25-plus of them!) the game goes well on both a personal (I got man of the match) and team level, although it ended 0-0. We’ll take this confidence into Tuesdays replay. After the game I’ll speak to my dad and talk about the game and my performance. Then I’ll speak to my younger brother Jack (who plays for Brentwood in Ryman One North) to see how he got on.

Saturday night normally means getting a takeaway, chilling at home, watching Spanish football and then a film....but I’ll always make sure I watch or record Match of the Day!

 

SUNDAY

Sundays are my only real day off. I’ll normally watch my youngest brother Charlie, who plays for Concord under-18s. That’s followed by watching more football on telly up until the last Spanish game is on, at which point I will either watch a film or go to bed, ready for work tomorrow.

 

MONDAY

I’m normally up around 6.30am to go to work in Canary Wharf where I work for the Financial Conduct Authority. My role is around the assessment of individuals who are looking to work in a certain role within the Financial industry.

I've worked here for just under six years which, having just turned 24 years old, is quite a long time. When I get home I have to wait for Dan Cowley’s text about the game.

 

TUESDAY

Work/game days are always the most draining as they involve early starts and late finishes, especially for an away trip. This means a later lunch and conscious effort to drink more water throughout the day.

My work is very accommodating for my football, so I manage to get the Jubilee line for the Hive at about 4.45pm. I normally meet Whitey (James White) as he works nearby, but today I met him straight at the ground.

My mum, dad (who alternate between watching me and my brother) and my friend Steve made the trek to North London to watch the game, which went well with a 6-2 win!

Unfortunately I had to come off after 40 minutes due to a back injury, which I hope doesn’t last too long. I did have a part to play in the first goal though! The boys came out for the second half and produced a great performance and ran out comfortable and deserved winners.

I got home about 12.30am, had dinner and eventually get to bed around 1.15am, which for an away game is about normal!

 

WEDNESDAY

I try to get up a little later on Wednesdays, maybe 7am, but then it’s straight back to work for a normal day, albeit aching from the night before.

As it’s the half-way point in the week, I’ll look forward to training Thursday, by which time we’re focused on Saturday’s opponents (Bishop’s Stortford) and having a run of league games to move ourselves up the table.