Chris Basham used to play alongside painters and decorators for Stafford Rangers, but has now painted a perfect Premier League picture for himself at Sheffield United having penned a new deal.
Basham, 32, was one of the Blades' outstanding performers this term, playing every game as they finished ninth and came within a whisker of qualifying for Europe.
His reward has been a new two-year deal at Bramall Lane and deserved accolades as the club's Player of the Year and Players' Player of the Year.
'I had to clean my own boots at Stafford and, to be fair, I had to do that at Blackpool as well,' reflected Basham.
'I signed for Blackpool when they were in the Premier League and I thought it would all be luxury, but it was really tough to play there.
'When I was at Stafford Rangers it was one of them where you'd train with the team on a Friday night and on a Saturday we'd just turn up and play games.
'I was making mates with lads who were painters and decorators. They were coming to games in their overalls, so that was a shock to the system. But it was a great learning curve.
'It shows you can work for something and still have that dream at the end of it as well.'
Basham also worked at McDonalds during part of his tumultuous rise to Sheffield United stardom.
'I still drive through that McDonalds now and there's still the same staff working there,' he added. 'It's still nice to say hello.'
Basham will be gutted the Blades missed out on Europe but, reflecting on his rise to the top, he must be full of pride.
