'No regrets' Walsall defender Aden Flint reflects on 15 years as a professional

Plying his trade with Alfreton Town in the sixth-tier of English football at the time, Flint would head from the stadium to spend the night tarmacking roads to fund his footballing dreams.

"I used to go to the game in the day then work through the night on shift and repeat," Flint recalled. 

"It was tough and eventually a time had to come where I had to concentrate on one or the other. 

"I made the choice of focusing on football and it's worked out for me in the end so I have no regrets." 

Fast forward 15 years, Flint has played almost 700 games at club level, including 267 appearances in the Championship. 

The 36-year-old is chasing a sixth career promotion in his latest chapter at Walsall after joining them on a free transfer following two seasons at Mansfield. 

Those challenging early years proved to be the making of him, but even Flint himself admits that he did not expect to achieve the success he has. 

"I probably couldn't have imagined what I've gone on to achieve and I got called all sorts from he friends," he remembered. 

"Things like: You're never going to make it, what are you doing thinking work to try and play football? 

"To be fair to my mum and dad, they never put any pressure on me. They just said do what you want to do. 

"The Alfreton manager at the time (Nicky Law) told me there might be a chance of doing well in football. 

"Little did I know that I'd get the chance to turn professional a couple of weeks later. I had the choice between Swindon or Colchester. 

"I chose Swindon in the end and I've not looked back since." 

Flint made his breakthrough in the Football League under the enigmatic Paolo Di Canio at Swindon - winning the League Two title in 2011-12. 

He admitted working under the Italian was an interesting and challenging experience, but that it was exactly what he needed at the time. 

"It was interesting but at the same time good because you're learning off probably one of the best players to play in the Premier League," he reflected. 

"Each day was different, each day was a challenging and it was mental, but great at the same time." 

The defender scored eight goals in 79 appearances with Swindon, before embarking on a legendary spell with local rivals Bristol City.

He netted 15 goals en route to the League One title in 2015 and played every single game as they famously reached the League Cup semi-finals in 2018 - beating the likes of Watford, Stoke, Crystal Palace and Manchester United. 

"We had a great run that year, beat some good teams, and then against the eventual winners Manchester City, that's what you want to do," he reminisced. 

"You want to play against the best teams. It was a tough night at the Etihad, I got man of the match and to get a goal against them at Ashton Gate was great. 

"It was a surreal run but perhaps it was the downfall in the league."