TROPHY HERO'S TEALE-Y GOOD SHOW!

SHAUN Teale is best known for his days as a rugged centre-half with Aston Villa in the early 1990s, but Non-League played a huge part in his career - at the beginning and end.

- John Lyons

Southport-born Teale was released by Everton as a youngster and joined Ellesmere Port before switching to his hometown club. Then came moves to Northwich Victoria and Weymouth before, at the age of 24, he finally got his Football League break with Bournemouth.

It wasn't until the ripe old age of 27 that he got his topflight chance with Villa- and he grabbed it with both hands. moustachioed The tre-half formed a commanding combicentre-half nation with Paul McGrath and helped Ron Atkinson's side win cenT the Coca-Cola Cup in 1994, beating Manchester United 3-1 in the final at Wembley.

That was one of his career high points, but it may not have been possible if he hadn't kept the faith in his own ability and had that education in NonLeague.

"You need a certain amount of talent and, on top of that, if you have a desire, will and self-belief, there's always a chance," he said. "If you have no self-belief, you have no chance - who is going to believe in you if you don't believe in yourself?

"I got released by Everton at 17. All I wanted to do was be a professional footballer and it's the same for hundreds and thousands of kids. I learned enough at Everton to go forward and Non-League provided me with a great grounding.

"It's a big wide world when you go into Non-League at that age. I was playing against ex-professionals who knew all the tricks of the trade. You had to learn to look after yourself pretty quickly or you would get bullied.