Pushing supermarket trolleys as a teenager was all the motivation Dan Burn needed to succeed in what he really wanted to do – play football.
The 28-year-old believes it was those long shifts on Saturday afternoons that made him determined to make the most of an opportunity with Darlington.
“I was pushing trolleys at Asda to earn a bit of money while I was at sixth form so I could go out with my friends. While I was doing that I got offered a two-year scholarship with Darlington.
“My Dad worked there and then he left to join Sainsburys. He got me the interview. I thought I would be stacking shelves, but the only thing they had was pushing trolleys.
“I always think that helped me get to where I am because I thought I didn't want that to become my full-time career.
“I am not knocking it, because I just felt once I started in football that having done a job like that gave me an edge over players who had been in top academies for years and had everything given to them.”
His contract offer from Darlington came after he was spotted by a scout playing for Blyth Spartans and eventually signed on the dotted line with the Quakers after impressing during a home nations tournament.
“I played for Blyth Spartans juniors from the age of about ten. I wasn't offered a club so I went to sixth form. I was playing for Blyth and someone scouting lads who hadn't been picked up by professional clubs asked me to play against Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland in a tournament. I was offered a trial by [Darlington Academy Manager] Craig Liddle and it went from there.”
As well as Darlington, Burn, 28, has also played for Fulham, Birmingham City, Yeovil Town and Wigan before joining Albion in 2018.
You can hear more about his footballing journey as well as podcasts with Bobby Zamora, Paul Barber and Martin Perry by clicking here.