AFC Fylde favourite Nick Haughton refused to give up on his football dream

The 26-year-old is enjoying his football, hungry to succeed and prospering under Jim Bentley’s guidance, though his journey has been far from plain sailing.

Growing up in Stretford, Manchester, Haughton progressed through Bolton Wanderers’ academy system before he was released at the age of 15.

Rejection, self-doubt and a loss of identity are the prominent theme in the stories of those released from academies. For Nick, though, giving up on his dream was never an option.

The creative midfielder said: “I loved it at Bolton until I got released. I felt at home, so when I found out I was being let go it was a huge blow. I was devastated.”

Of those that fail to make the grade at academy level, a high percentage turn their back on the game. But Haughton always had an ‘inner-drive’ to prove the doubters wrong.

“Giving up on football was never really an option for me,” he said. “I know so many that have been released and never recovered. For me, it was always just a case of, ‘Right, where else can I go? Where next?’

“When you’ve put everything into trying to make it and it doesn’t work out, it is tough to take but my mentality was to just get on with it.”

Haughton spent time on trial at Bury and Accrington Stanley but no scholarship was offered.

“It was another hurdle to overcome but my family were a big influence on me and still are,” Haughton said. “My dad would drive me all over the place and has always been really supportive of everything that I’ve done.”

Nick began studying public services alongside a BTEC Sports course at sixth form college and worked part-time.

“It was time for me to get a job as I wasn’t earning,” he said. “In the end I was doing shifts at Pizza Hut and playing for Curzon Ashton on the side.

“Curzon’s first team were brilliant the year I was there, going on to achieve promotion to the National League North, so I wasn’t really given an opportunity.

“I was 18 and I remember being frustrated because I wanted to play football and progress.”

Graham Alexander at Fleetwood Town swooped for the Mancunian, offering a 12-month contract on the back of an impressive trial.

“I had played against AFC Blackpool for Runcorn Town, and that was where Fleetwood saw me play and invited me in for a trial,” he recalled.

“It all happened really fast after that. I was given my first professional contract after three days and made my debut three months later against Port Vale.

“ It was extra-special because at the time I was going to college and working, so it was the break that I had been waiting for ever since leaving Bolton as a kid.”

After playing 40 league games for the Cod Army, a move to Salford City followed before he returned to the Fylde coast to join The Coasters in October 2018.

“Being released by Bolton, you can take that rejection two ways – either fall out of the game or try to prove people wrong, which is how I felt.

“My family would tell me to keep at it, and I would always go and watch City at weekends, so my love for the game never died.

“I’ve been fortunate enough to play football full-time since Fleetwood, which I’m grateful for. There were times when I didn’t think it was going to happen, so it makes you appreciate it when it does.”

Haughton is enjoying his football now but stressed the importance of avoiding complacency.

“Of course, things are great at the moment but it’s still early days. There’s a long, long way to go.

“I have personal targets. My goal is to go on and get double figures this season.

“The main target will always be promotion, so if I can help the team achieve that by scoring goals and creating them, then brilliant.”

And Haughton sees no reason why the club can’t repeat last season’s run to the FA Cup third round.

“Why not?,” he said. “We have confidence. Things are a little different now without fans in the stadium,so whether that will play into our hands I don’t know.

“We have a huge game against Exeter but if we perform like we have been lately I’m sure we will give them a good game.

“There is no reason why we can’t pull off an upset on Saturday.”