Special Feature: Taking Stock, The New Life Of Brian

Premier League ones, they’re the main culprits. It’s all about the money, forget the love of the game.

If that’s your view, you probably aren’t alone. Players get a bad press when it comes to leaving one club for another, and when cash is involved, regardless of the story behind it all, we all jump to conclusions.

But there’s somebody we would quite like you to meet.

Say hello to Brian Stock. A few short years ago he said goodbye to the top flight and goodbye to a six-figure salary to pull on the shirt of Havant & Waterlooville.

He’s got quite a story behind him. We sat down with the Hawks midfielder, 36, to find out exactly why he swapped the supposed Premier League high-life for the National League South back in 2014.

“There was a lot of confusion that summer,” he said. “I was with Burnley, who had just been promoted and I shook hands on a two year contract with a Championship side.

“I turned down probably 15 other contracts elsewhere. I was so excited but then they let me down. It got to me like you wouldn’t believe. It got to the stage where I just wanted to give up football, it was that one moment where something inside me just snapped.

“I was that hurt by what happened I decided to just leave overnight and I packed my bags and returned to the south coast. Just like that I gave it up.

“I was 31 or 32 and I thought ‘I just dont need this anymore’. So I gave some time to my wife and my children and came home.

“It’s not something I regret. I set up an academy down here and it’s gone from strength to strength. I got the call from Havant and I thought I would carry on playing part time.

“After what happened I didn’t want to go and play for another professional club again. I could have been easily earning five times the amount I am here, you’re talking very good money, but what does it matter if there’s no trust?

“As it happened the day before I signed here I got a call from that club again asking me to come and talk to them. I told them no and that I’m not breaking my promises.

“I look back on that first year. I got so many yellow cards and my fitness wasn’t right. I guess it was just frustration from what happened.

“I soon got my head around it all. If you are prepared to fight, you can fight. I found love for football again, being with the right type of people.”

The Hawks went down but since then it’s been an incredible ride. Ryman Premier champions followed by the National League South title with pretty much the final kick of the ball last April.

This season has seen a slower than hoped for start but a thrilling 4-3 win at Braintree with two late goals - they are good at them - got Lee Bradbury’s team get up and running at the weekend.

“I think the manager has brought in some great players who have fit into the changing room really well,” Stock, the former Doncaster and Preston man, added.

“The work ethic is something we all buy into and every one of the new faces is the same. Over the past few years that’s what this club has been built on.

“Last year we deserved it, we worked so hard as a squad. I’ve experienced it before, being top all season and losing it on the last day. Real heartbreak - thankfully we went on and won the play-offs with Doncaster than year.

“That day is something you will look back on in ten years time and remember. With the Ryman League title the year before, we’ve put the club back to where it should be and beyond really.”

So what can they achieve this season, their first in Non-League’s top flight.

“You just don’t know,” he said. “We’re part-time but we’re a close squad and that can take you places as we’ve seen over the past two years.

“We know it’ll be demanding but few sides will have it easy against us. We’re looking to make an impression.”