Carl Rushworth has enjoyed an impressive season with Swansea City, but the 22-year-old knows his career could have worked out very differently.
The on-loan Brighton stopper reveals how he feared his football dreams were over after being released by Huddersfield as a youngster, leading to a spell working as a waiter, on a ski slope and in insurance before joining Halifax.
Rushworth also talks about turning down the chance to join Manchester United - the club he supports - in order to join Brighton, and why the sacrifices his parents made for him are a huge source of motivation.
In just two months' time, former Swansea City Youth player James Taylor will fulfil a lifelong dream of travelling to a major international tournament as part of the Wales set-up; a goal that had looked to be nearly impossible to achieve just 12 months ago.
Matt Grimes is one of Swansea City's longest-serving current players and is in his fifth season as skipper at the Swansea.com Stadium.
Here, the midfielder reveals how a conversation with England boss Gareth Southgate proved a watershed moment in his captaincy, while also reflecting on his upbringing in Exeter, and explaining how football is not the only sport in which he has gained international honours.
Victory in the south Wales derby may have been secured, but the hard work has not stopped at Fairwood as Swansea City prepare for their Good Friday meeting with Sheffield Wednesday at Hillsborough.
Check out the best of our training footage as the Swans squad are put through their paces.
Swansea City AFC Foundation’s Premier League Kicks pan-disability participants recently welcomed players from the Wales’ deaf football squad to their weekly session ahead of this summer's European Deaf Championships.
