Kyle McFadzean has been around the block and enjoyed a marvellous career.

But had it not been for the intervention of Alfreton Town manager Nicky Law senior, he wouldn't have been in the professional game.

The 36-year-old, soon to be 37, has joined Blackburn Rovers on a short-term deal until the end of the season. It brought an end to his four-and-a-half-year spell at Coventry City, where he rose through the leagues with Mark Robins.

McFadzean spent three years away from football in his younger years. By his own admission, he fell in with the wrong crowd. He 'couldn't be bothered' to play, at times.

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It was a sliding doors moment when Law knocked on his door and asked him to join at Alfreton. He helped guide McFadzean back into professional football and a move to Crawley Town provided him with the career he has to date.

"When I dropped out, I was hanging around with the wrong crowd," McFadzean told The Lancashire Telegraph.

"It was a time when I stayed in with my friends. I just couldn't be bothered to play football anymore. I played from a young age.

"Nicky Law senior, I played with his son at Sheffield United, he played at Rangers, places like that. His dad was the Alfreton manager. 

"I started playing Saturday league, I was playing up front and scoring 60 goals all the time. He came to watch, knocked on my door and asked if I wanted to play for Alfreton, he said he could get me back in the league.

"I went. It was good but the standard of players wasn't what I was used to. I stuck it out for a bit but sometimes I wouldn't turn up. The Alfreton chairman said they needed to get rid of me.

"If it wasn't for Nick Law senior, I wouldn't have played football again. I did well one season, I got in the England C team. I had a lot of clubs interested in me.

"My mum and Nicky said that I had to move away to get me from my friends. I moved to Crawley and I haven't looked back since. It really helped.

"I love football now, I have three kids, I love them watching me play. It's a big thing for me. It makes me happy now, I have grown up. I wouldn't change it, definitely not.

"I have seen lots of things in my career which have been up and down. It's part and parcel of football."

Plenty of senior pros would've stuck it out at Coventry. Perhaps coming to the latter stages of their career, they wouldn't have taken a chance on a six-month deal away from what they'd called home for so long.

But after dropping out of the Sky Blues side in November, McFadzean held honest talks with Mark Robins. The team shifted formation and it was clear the club captain wouldn't get much football before the summer months.

"I can't do it, I can't be sat not playing," he explained when asked on the decison to move.

"My mentality is to play, that's important. I support the team and I want them to win but I want to be out on the pitch giving 100 per cent to help get the result.

"That's how I am. I am a winner. I will do anything for the team, I will put my body on the line for the team no matter what.

"It's a new experience for me, which I am looking forward to. I have been here and four and a half years.

"Nobody likes change, I am 36, nearly 37. I was nervous coming here at nearly 37 years old. Dom (Hyam) laughed at me! 

"It's a change, nobody likes it but you have to do it. I am so happy I made this decision."

It's a short-term deal for McFadzean but he's determined to prove he can be an asset in seasons to come too. He will undoubtedly provide much-needed experience for an incredibly young group.

A debut on Saturday against Queens Park Rangers may come too soon but McFadzean is ready to make an immediate impact.

"I have to impress the gaffer, that's the main thing," he added. "I have to perform and do what he wants me to do. I have to get in my head that the style of play is completely different. It is really exciting and good, interesting.

"It can only help me too. I have loads of experience, it's a young group but a good group. 

"I can learn from them, they can learn from me. That is the main thing. It was similar at Coventry, they were a young group as well, they had more senior lads as I left.

"I just have to get up to fitness and help them as soon as possible. I'm alright fitness-wise, I have been training but that's completely different to matches.

"Hopefully, we get a few games in-house so I can be involved in those. I think this weekend is too early for me but if I have to play, I will."