'Changed my life' - Courtney Clarke's journey from cage football to Walsall

Although he once had a spell in the academy ranks at Derby County, there is a rawness to his game, which makes him standout from many of his contemporaries. 

That is because those skills, and that element of guile and flair, was painstakingly practiced and refined in the football cages near his childhood home in London.

Hailing from cage football

"My style has come from cage football from when I've been in London. It just gave me that freedom which any creative player needs," he reflects.

"I haven't always been like that though. I was low on confidence but now I'm of the mindset where I know I'm a good player and I know that I can go far. 

"I've just got to keep believing in myself and I don't think I'm fazed by anything now." 

First league start for Walsall

The Saddlers' 1-1 draw against Fleetwood Town at the Highbury Stadium on September 13 was a crowning moment in his journey so far. 

His mum travelled from London to share the special occasion with him on his first league start for Walsall, and he collected his second assist for the club for Albert Adomah's fourth in their thrilling 4-2 win over Tranmere Rovers on Saturday.

Walsall have become notorious for unearthing talents from the non-league market, especially during Mat Sadler's reign. 

Harry Williams, Jamie Jellis and Connor Barrett have all emerged from the non-league scene, while the now departed Taylor Allen also had strong roots in the lower reaches of the English pyramid. 

Clarke, along with Harrison Burke, have become the latest pair to be plucked from the divisions below, but his journey started long before his spells with Eastbourne Borough and South Shields. 

Humble roots

At 17, Clarke was making his first footsteps into the game in the ninth-tier at AFC Whyteleafe when he reached an important crossroads in his career with the Kinetic Foundation.

"Kinetic Foundation basically changed my life," he reveals.

"From not having anything, they gave me an opportunity and the exposure to do what I can and show how good I am. 

"I'm forever grateful for that and I'll always show my love to them. The programme is for younger players that don't have that support. 

"They support anybody both on and off the pitch. Me getting signed, I showed a lot of other players that you can still make it after the age of 17, or even at 18 or 19. 

"I just keep going and hopefully that shows others that it's possible. My aim is just to make them proud."