“Never give up!” – a message from ex-Colchester United defender Ben Coker

Ben Coker, in his Colchester United days

The 25-year-old left-back started out in non-league with Suffolk club Bury Town, earned a dream move to League One side Colchester United, but was released and had to rebuild again at Cambridgeshire-based side Histon.

Southend United came calling and Coker is now a third-tier player again following the Shrimpers’ dramatic Play-Off Final penalty shoot-out victory against Wycombe, at Wembley, last Saturday week.

“It’s only just started to sink over the last few days,” said Coker.

“I’ve watched it back a few times and it just feels surreal.

“Playing at Wembley is something every young footballer dreams about and that day is something I’ll never forget.

“It was a bit crazy looking around and thinking where I’d come from and some of the less glamorous grounds I’d played at in non-league.”

He continued: “It’s been a massive rollercoaster journey for me.

“I really had to regroup after being let go by Colchester and remind myself that football is all about opinions – you might be one manager’s cup of tea and not another’s. That’s just the way it is.

“Of course there were moments when I began to question whether I’d ever get back to where I was, but that spell back in non-league just made me more determined to prove people wrong.”

Coker, who was working as a builder when playing for Bury under Richard Wilkins’ management, said: “When I was at Histon I knew I might get a trial with a pro club in pre-season.

“I spent five or six weeks training hard when others were resting so that I’d be fully prepared and in the best possible shape. Thankfully it worked and Phil Brown took a chance on me and now here I am.

“I guess my message to any young footballer is ‘never give up’.

“You just have to have a thick skin, not take anything too much to heart and keep belief in your ability.”