GARETH SEDDON can't be the Padiham Predator as his Burnley supporting-mates say there is only one - Clarets striker Andy Payton.

So instead his friends have nicknamed the Bury frontman the "Hapton Hitman" and he is determined he will live up to his name at Gigg Lane this season.

The 21-year-old lives just a few streets away from Payton in Padiham and he is someone Seddon admires.

"I have obviously followed his career with him being from the same area as me," said the youngster.

But he wants to establish his own identity in soccer circles and is fast on his way to doing it - especially as he has done it the hard way.

Seddon was training at Blackburn Rovers as a schoolboy before signing up for Wigan under boss John Deehan.

"Things were going well until I broke my sternum - my chest bone - in a youth team game against Burnley.

"I was out for 14 months and I thought it was the end of my career. It spoilt my chances of getting a professional contract as I was out for so long.

"And then, I didn't seem to enjoy my football. I suppose I'd lost a bit of interest and my injury didn't help. It was hard to get back into it. I had offers of trials but I just let it drift."

Instead, he tried a new career - and joined the RAF in Wolverhampton as a physical training instructor.

"Some of my mates were in the RAF so I decided to give it a go. I needed to get fit again plus I was really skinny. I knew I needed building up. I was small for my age as well, I was only about 5ft 7in.

"Then I got really fit and for some reason I grew over the next year. I shot up to 6ft 2in.

"I could not play football for the first nine months in the RAF because of my injury but then I played for the Under 21s, then the full RAF squad and then the combined services.

"Then I started to play semi-professional football for Atherston in the Dr Marten's League and was getting £200 a game so it wasn't bad!

"I scored 12 goals in 14 games and people started to take notice. There were scouts from Wolves, Birmingham and Bristol City coming to watch me."

And then he got a call from Everton boss Walter Smith.

"I didn't believe it was him on the phone. I thought it was my mates taking the mickey. I couldn't believe it.

"Everyone at the RAF was saying I shouldn't be in the RAF and it made me think that perhaps I should give professional football another goal so the RAF gave me two weeks off and I went to Everton."

His dad Peter used to play for the Goodison Park club before injury curtailed his career so it was a dream for Seddon to land there.

"I was training with Duncan Ferguson and Kevin Campbell. It was unbelievable and I played in two reserve games.

"I played against Manchester United, which was my first visit to Gigg Lane, I did okay but the nerves got to me. Then I played against Blackburn Rovers and we drew 0-0 and I did well.

"A few people said I would be signed and I was waiting to hear from Everton when Reading boss Alan Pardew gave me a ring.

"I was just waiting for the phone call from Everton and it never came so I knew I couldn't wait much longer and I went to Reading."

He went for the day, had a meal, sat with the manager, watched the game and the signing was announced.

"Then they lost in the Play-Off final to Walsall last season and for some reason the deal fell through."

But he had already handed in his notice to the RAF.

"I was gutted. I had a week left and it all fizzled out and I just thought 'What am I going to do?'"

But, luckily, enough clubs had heard about him and Chesterfield and the Shakers made their move.

"I got a call from Andy Preece this summer, went to Gigg Lane and that was it. The lads have christened me 'Maveric' out of Top Gun because of the RAF although in one paper it said 'Biggles' - I prefer Maveric!"

Seddon hasn't really looked back since, managing to fit in a league debut, scoring his first league goal and getting sent off!

" I have been involved in every game so far with Bury and it has been great.

"My debut was against Tranmere on the opening day of the season and it was the little things that impressed me. Seeing my name on the back of my shirt, that had never happened before, and hearing my name over the tannoy. Those are the things I remember."

His first sending off came shortly after in a loss to Oldham.

"I had never even been booked before but I got the red card for arguing. The gaffer wasn't too happy!"

But on a happier not, his first league goals came last week in Bury's first home win of the season against Chesterfield - he scored both in the 2-1 win.

"It was my first game back from suspension and I came off the bench. We had all rehearsed a celebration, we were going to fly like aeroplanes. In the excitement of scoring I forgot and the lads were so shocked they forgot and just jumped on me as well!"

Now he has set himself the next target.

"I always make resolutions. They were to become a professional footballer, to make my league debut and to score my first league goals. I have done all that so now it's to get ten goals and stop up this season."

Things aren't going too well at Bury at the moment. The cash-strapped club are rock bottom of the Second Division and face a tough game tomorrow at home to high flying Peterborough - but Seddon says the lads aren't downhearted.

"We have been playing well but we seem to concede early goals in every match. I don't know why we do that and I bet the gaffer wishes he did!

"We are a young side, we have a lot of spirit, and if we stop up this season and get more experience then it bodes well for next season.

"I appreciate what I do now. I know what life is like outside of football so I do always work hard. I don't want to go out of professional football again. I want to make it and show people what I can do."

Watch out for the Hapton Hitman!