Non-league interview: Dean Coleman

Dean Coleman has just finished work for the day, when he arrives at the War Memorial Athletic Ground for the Glassboys' evening clash with Nantwich Town. A full-time builder, Coleman runs to a tight schedule. On non-match days, this would be his downtime. Tonight, however, is different. Energy drink in hand, Coleman has a sparkle in his eye, a purpose in his stride, as a tangible excitement exudes from the 6'1" keeper. It is for nights like this that Coleman plays the game.

Since the age of eight, football has been at the centre of Dean Coleman's life. Born in Dudley, Coleman quickly caught the bug for the beautiful game. He was a regular attendee at Molineux during the 1990s, where he was inspired by the goalkeeper Mike Stowell. Coleman comments on the influence of Stowell: "Being a Wolves fan and watching the Wolves play, he was the keeper I wanted to be." Coleman also cites Peter Schmeichel as one of his role models when he was younger: "Watching football on TV, it was always Peter Schmeichel. He was one of the best at the game." Yet above all, Coleman credits his Dad as having the greatest influence on his younger years: "He was a goalkeeper. He used to play for a Sunday league side and watching him inspired me to try and follow in his footsteps from when I was a little kid. I've played ever since."

Having caught the bug, Coleman couldn't keep away from playing the sport: "As a kid, football was a big part of my life. I played in the Sunday league, the district team, at school, whenever I could really." At the age of eight, Coleman made his first breakthrough, joining the youth set-up at Birmingham City. His experience at the Blues, however, proved to be short-lived: "I signed for the Blues, but then Karren Brady shut the School of Excellence down." Despite initial disappointment, this development enabled Coleman to join the youth set-up at the team he had grown up supporting: Wolverhampton Wanderers.

After eight years in the Wolves youth set-up, Coleman joined the youth system at Walsall, before earning himself a two year professional contract at the club in 2004. Released by the Saddlers in May 2006, Coleman joined the non-league game, enjoying spells at Bromsgrove Rovers and Willenhall, before linking up with Kidderminster Harriers in July 2007. Coleman reflects on making the transition to the non-league game: "Obviously in the professional game you're playing full-time and you have to be a lot fitter as a player. In the non-league though, you have to be more mentally strong because you have to work and then come to play football. Being a builder, it's quite a hard, physical job. By the time you've done your day's graft it can be a bit mentally tiring. But you grin and bear it. It's bearable."

Outside of playing for Stourbridge, and working full-time, Dean likes to relax by enjoying a spot of fishing. He does, however, have a new, more adrenaline fuelled hobby – motorcycling. Coleman has just passed his motorbike test and has bought himself 'a big bike'. "Yes", he says, "It's pretty big. When the weather's nice, I normally go for a ride." When I tell him I am learning to drive, he warns me that I should watch out for him.

I finish by asking Dean what he might have done if he hadn't chosen to be a footballer. For the first time in the interview, he seems somewhat baffled. "It's a hard one, really. Football's always been my life. It's something I've always done since I was a kid. It's never really crossed my mind what I'd do without football. Football's just always been everything to me, throughout my life."

Now, aged twenty-eight, football is still the driving force in the life of the Glassboys' number one, and continues to offer the thrill and excitement which drew the young Coleman to the game some twenty years ago.