Former AFC Telford man Dwayne Samuels in no rush to return to football

A Friday night under the lights, it was a very good point as the Bucks managed to stay in National League North.

Key to getting something out of the game was keeping Stockport winger Danny Lloyd quiet – and Dwayne Samuels was the man who did it.

Just eight months later though, Lloyd is playing in League One for Peterborough United and Samuels is not playing at all. He has no immediate plans to return to the game either.

Samuels, aged 27, was the first choice right-back for the Bucks in the previous two seasons – a player who gave his all for the cause, a true fan favourite.

He decided not to sign fresh terms for this campaign though, stating he needed some time off after being involved in back-to-back scraps against relegation – which, in the end, they won.

And the former West Brom youngster is happy with the ‘very tough’ choice he made during the summer.

“I am happy with how things are – happy with the decision I made, to take time off and sort things in my personal life,” said Samuels.

“It was a very tough decision, something I did not take lightly, but I have gained some clarity from having this time off.

“Those two seasons were tough – it was a very high-pressure environment. It’s been good for me to get away from that.”

Samuels insists being a part-time footballer is not easy, especially when you are at the wrong end of the table.

As well as having a full-time job, he was having to cope with the pressure of keeping Telford up.

And he acknowledges the club’s current regime – training four days a week – would have been difficult for him to meet.

“That would’ve been a struggle. Feeling the way I do about the club though, I would’ve tried to buy into it,” said Samuels.

“Training, travel to games, you do have to make sacrifices. It is a tough schedule, especially when you are going away to places like Darlington. If you are working a 40-hour week, it’s around 60 or 70 with the football on top.

“Don’t get me wrong, it was never about the money at Telford – it was always about trying to help the club do well.

“But I was going to training and not really enjoying it. If I can’t commit to something 100 per cent, I don’t want to do it.

“And it wouldn’t have been fair on the club.”

Samuels left before Rob Smith was sacked by the Bucks and – on the same day – replaced by current boss Rob Edwards.

He has not spoke to Edwards but Smith – now the Hednesford Town chief – is one of two former Telford men who have tried to get the defender back into football.

“There has been a few contacts – Lee Hughes at Worcester, and Rob when he went to Hednesford,” said Samuels.

“But once I made the decision, I was always going to see out the season. In the new year, I’m hoping to do some travelling.”

Samuels holds the Bucks in high regard and has kept an eye on them this season. He likes the style of Edwards’ team too.

“I follow on Twitter and watch highlights,” he said.

“They look the opposite to the team I played in. We didn’t score a lot of goals, but were pretty solid at the back. Now, they are scoring loads of goals but have conceded a fair few as well.

“I do think sometimes ‘bloody hell, I wish I played in this team’.

“There does seem to to be more emphasis on attacking and flair – and I would have liked that.”

He added: “I’ll never say never about going back into football, but this was about giving my body – and mind – a rest from it all.

“Now, being able to finish work, and go home and relax and spend time with the family – I enjoy it.

“I love football but it’s just nice to have a bit more free time.”