Life as a professional footballer, as we know, is a precarious occupation. A lifelong career for the chosen few; a fleeting experience for the majority. Now, more than ever, football's live-for-the-day philosophy is having to be compromised with a clear set of blueprints to cater for a player reaching the end of the line.
Life after football can often be a dark place, but for Lincoln City midfielder Ben Sedgemore the future could not be any brighter. "I'm not one to follow the crowd," revealed Sedgemore at his home in Houghton, just outside Huntingdon. "I may get stick from some of the Lincoln lads but I refuse to be a sheep."
The 28-year-old Wolverhampton-born player certainly has a point. What instantly strikes you as being unusual is where Sedgemore has chosen to set up home. Houghton is a delightful anachronism - out of time with the hurly burly of modern life, a million miles away from the buzz of a Saturday afternoon - and a somewhat odd choice for a footballer.
Although Sedgemore explains that Houghton is equidistant between Lincoln and London - where his girlfriend Louisa Preston, an ITN reporter and newsreader currently working with TV station Five, works - the quirkiness of the village is striking.
A footballer and TV personality living in such a sleepy place leads to a suggestion that Preston and Sedgemore are the 'Posh and Becks' of this part of the world. That is greeted with a smile but Sedgemore is keen to stress they have gone out of their way to become part of such a closely-knit community since moving to Houghton last summer.
"It's a picturesque area and we really like it here," he said. "The community has welcomed us with open arms and we've been able to take part in all kinds of activities. We've met so many people that it's been a seamless settling-in period."
Sedgemore hardly fits the image of a fashion-conscious player either. The dishevelled haircut and loose-fitting clothes are more the look of an undergraduate than a footballer. That is perhaps understandable as he is close to completing a part-time degree in psychology and law at Wolverhampton University.
"Because of the precarious nature of football, I started the degree when I was living at my parents' house in Wolverhampton," he explained. "It was fine when I was living in the area but it's obviously tougher now to get to lectures and suchlike. I'm still working hard though."
Although we live in an age where university life is no longer for the elite, the value of a degree as a tool to gain employment cannot be under-estimated and the opportunities Sedgemore will have at his disposal are limitless.
His 10,000-word dissertation on 'Imagery Use in Football' will crown six years of hard graft and also makes for an intriguing concept.
"I had to interview four teams - two amateur and two professional - and tease out the differences in their use of imagery," he added. "It varied in each aspect but, internally and externally, professionals tend to use imagery to a greater extent. I'll be very disappointed if I don't get first-class honours."
Sedgemore is also considering entering coaching, management or the administrative side of football when it is time to hang up his boots.
With a UEFA 'B' coaching badge already in the bag, the former England schoolboy international hopes to work for the 'A' award in the near future and also harbours designs on completing a Masters in sports psychology.
Such a glittering curriculum vitae has been galvanised by his crucial role within the PFA. Sedgemore has been a delegate at all the clubs he has played for except Birmingham, where he started his career, and has earned a position on the PFA's management committee.
The committee is comprised of representatives from all levels of professional football who liaise on a regular basis to ensure the general mechanics within the game are running smoothly.
Sedgemore said: "Football has been highly criticised over the last year and the negative media circus has spiralled out of all control. Our role is to try and combat this and promote the positive aspects of the game. Bad news sells newspapers but ultimately the good stuff far outweighs the bad.
"It's rewarding to know I'm doing my bit to give the game a helping hand while I can because when all is said and done, you simply don't know what's around the corner."
Two major factors have sharpened Sedgemore's awareness that playing football is no longer the be-all and end-all in life.
Paul Smith, a highly-regarded colleague at Sincil Bank, had to retire from the game earlier in the season because of a back injury, hitting home to Sedgemore how nothing can be taken for granted in football.
"Here's a lad who was as hard-working a professional as they come and by a cruel twist of fate he has had to end his career," Sedgemore reflected. "Hopefully Paul can move forward. I'm sure he will, but it makes you stop and think, doesn't it?"
Undoubtedly though, the most chilling reminder of how uncontrollable circumstances can destroy even the best-made plans came last November. Lincoln manager Keith Alexander collapsed at his home late one evening with a double aneurysm and had to undergo emergency brain surgery. For a time, his condition was critical.
Everyone in football was in shock as a sense of perspective emerged on every training ground across the country. Thankfully, Alexander made a full recovery and is back guiding Lincoln towards the end of another successful season.
"It just goes to show the strength of the man that he recovered so quickly," Sedgemore said. "But from my point of view, it proves you never know when you've played your last game or lived your last day. That's why I'm trying to make as many provisions as I can so that when it's time to call it a day I should be sorted."
With so much on his plate, Sedgemore rarely has much spare time but when he does have a free hour or two, you can guarantee his attention will be lavished upon the upkeep of his dazzling Porsche 365 circa 1950.
With the exception of his girlfriend - for the sake of a quiet life Sedgemore insisted on making this distinction - the Porsche is his prized possession and the pride in his eyes when it was unveiled from his neighbour's garage was there for all to see.
His fascination with vintage cars came from his father, who is a Jaguar enthusiast and gently pushed his son in the direction of classic motor vehicles. "Many a time I saw my dad cleaning car wheels with a toothbrush and polishing until he couldn't move his arms," he laughed.
His father's approach may be considered slightly obsessive but Sedgemore has clearly adopted a similarly diligent work ethic in everything he has thrown himself into. "Unless you give 100 per cent you'll be found out," he summarised. "I want to finish my career exhausted, proud and with as many strings to my bow as possible."
Whichever path Ben Sedgemore chooses to follow when time is finally called on his playing days, it is easy to see him hitting the bullseye.
* Article reproduced by kind permission of Players' Club - the Official publication of the PFA.
