Non league is understated but there are players who chose to play it while doing something else. Michael Boulding is a good example kept his footie going for Halam while attempting to become a pro tennis player, changed back did well at Grimsby got a contract at Villa. Shailie played (captained?) for England C as a student, unusual in that not trying to play pro football because he was studying, he was an elite schoolboy athlete (interested to know how he did on the bleep test) who could have chosen his sport, seen comments about him putting his body on the line, exceptional schoolboy rugby player used to play for yr 8 when he was in yr 5. Very good tennis player etc.. tales of him hitting with the pros while at Roehampton (but I don’t trust the source could be BS) From a very grounded family (probably why went to Uni first saw pro sport as a risk?) really modest/unaffected as a kid/teenager considering so so good at every sport. I don’t think there was any doubt he would be a professional athlete when/if he chose to go full time. Great shame about his injuries.
