The life of Riley

For it was back in 1997 that dad Danny persuaded his son to travel to Scotland with his Blackburn Celtic team for a junior tournament.

He was in Dumfries just to help out but when a player got injured, Sean's healing hands got him fit for an important final -- he was then told by a grateful parent that he was in the wrong job.

It was probably an off-the-cuff remark but it stuck.

For Sean, who had mainly had labouring and factory jobs, decided there and then that he wanted to become a football physiotherapist.

Easier said than done for someone who left school with no qualifications. But when you are as dedicated as Sean, obstacles like that do not get in your way.

"That trip to Dumfries certainly made up my mind about what I wanted to do," said Sean who is now club physio at Accrington Stanley. "I didn't really know what I was doing but when I helped that player get fit for the final it all seemed very natural."

On his return he answered an advert to attend an LFA beginners course for sports injuries. After that, he went on an intermediate course.

By now he was fully focused and it was a determination that impressed Alan Hodgson, head of FA's medical team on a trip to Lilleshall.

"I was invited down to Lilleshall to have a look around and I met Alan and his team. I enjoyed the trip and it just made me even more eager to move on to the next stage."

That next stage just happened to be an FA Diploma in treatment and management of sport injuries -- but Sean was just one of the 500 people wanting to fill the 35 places on the course. But he got on.

"I didn't think I stood much of a chance of getting on the course but my desire must have impressed Alan because he phoned me up and offered me a place."

By now, Sean was juggling a job, helping to bring up his young family and getting on with his studies but he passed with flying colours.

Meanwhile, Sean wanted to put his theory in to practice and he contacted Ian McGarry who, at the time, was the manager of Great Harwood Town.

"I phoned him, told him what I was doing and said that I would like to go and help out at the club. Ian said great but we can't pay you." Sean must have impressed McGarry because within a few weeks of going to the Showground, he managed to find him a few quid for his troubles.

With Sean now acting as a Non League physio it meant he had to wave goodbye to his playing days at grassroots level.

Sean played in goal for the likes of Old Toll and Ewood Amateurs in the Blackburn Combination and the Lion in the Blackburn Sunday League before running a Walmsley side. With an FA Diploma under his belt, he could have been forgiven for stopping there -- but far from it.

Sean decided he wanted to continue his education and set his sights on a degree in physiotherapy. Again he thought he had little chance of getting on the course.

"I attended an interview at Salford University but I didn't think I stood much of a chance. They wanted 'A' levels and I didn't even have GCSEs!"

However, Sean's hard work to earn his FA Diploma paid off and he was offered a place on the course.

Sean's climb up the education ladder was mirrored in his path in Non League football.

After a few years at Great Harwood, Sean stepped up to Unibond League side Bamber Bridge working with manager Tony Underwood before being invited by Tony Hesketh to work at Lancaster.

Then came Accrington Stanley.

"It's been brilliant working with Coley and the lads.They are determined to get in to the Football League and so am I." Sean has never forgotten his roots and takes his magic sponge et al down to Pleasington where he is on hand to treat Blackburn Sunday League players.

"I love working with the players down there. I've done it for a few years and despite my commitment to Stanley, I think I have only missed one week this season."

Sean is a perfect example of what can be achieved by hard work and sheer dogged determination -- and not just a bucket and a magic sponge!