Given the eventful nature of Troy Deeney's professional career, it should not come as a surprise that his pathway into the game did not always follow the conventional route. The 37-year-old hung up his boots in 2024, having made more than 700 professional appearances, with more than 200 goals to his name, via a spell in prison and a four-day spell on a ventilator during the COVID-19 pandemic.
‘Certain opportunities only come along once in a lifetime,’ says Truro City manager John Askey, reflecting on his team’s unexpected rise to success. Guided by Askey, Truro City achieved promotion to the highest tier of non-league football. This transition from a part-time to a fully professional setup represents a significant milestone, as they are the first team from Cornwall to reach this level. Captain Connor Riley-Lowe remarks on the adjustments required in training while managing a full-time job, sharing both the challenges and rewards of this new chapter in his career.