...on a non-League career that, some 28 years later sees him as a fledgling player-manager at Edgware Town.

And sometimes, the dog was busy! is his story as he’s careered around the lower leagues; the managers, players and clubs he’s come across, and the things he’s seen.

No Lamborghinis and champagne here, more a Wispa bar and a lager, and a guy that only knows how to play at 110%. Twenty non-League clubs, (in Middlesex and Hertfordshire) and over 1200 games since he started, he now strives to feed that knowledge and experience into his management style and his team…

The youngest of three brothers (Declan is 48 and Neil, 50) proud Irishman Fergus (46) is by his own admission a non-League dinosaur, who started in the game as a successful junior player. He represented his schools and County sides before being selected to join Brentford FC as a youth. A year or so later, he was released and started the marathon that has become his non-league career; twenty or so clubs and 26 years later he’s still playing.

He has been there, seen it and done it in his career, albeit at a level that at best would be under the radar of the majority of football fans that become engulfed by the glitter of the Premier League and its stars, (though one or two of those have crossed paths with Fergus over the years). He and friend Roger thought there was a story there to be told and they should write it. And sometimes, the dog was busy! Is that story.

Alongside the time-consuming passion that the game has become, Fergus is happily married to Hayley and they have three children, Aaron (18), Callum (13) and Holly (6). Living in Borehamwood, when he’s not playing, training, running or spending time with the family, he works as a Telecommunications Engineer with Openreach where he has been for twelve years.

Available from all good booksellers 24th September 2018.