SEAN HAZELDEN plays his 500th non-league match tonight when AFC Emley take on Hallam.

The 30-year-old centre-back from Meltham has had four years at the Welfare Ground and hopes to mark the milestone with a Northern Counties East League Division I victory.

“I’m still enjoying my football and I’ll carry on playing until my back gives in or as long as required,” said the PE teacher, whose wife Kirsty is expecting their first child in January.

“We’ve got a good atmosphere up at Emley and, while we haven’t had a good start I’m sure it’s only a matter of time before it all comes together for the manager (Darren Hepworth).”

On reaching 500 games, he added: “I knew I wasn’t going to be a professional player, so I wanted to become a PE teacher and play part-time football – and it’s worked out pretty well.

“I’ve really enjoyed my football in England and in Wales – where I was at university in Bangor – and my parents (Richard and Pauline, from Holmfirth) have been a massive support and have seen a vast number of the matches I’ve played, travelling all over the place in the process.”

Hazelden played his junior football with Rotherham Under 15s and 16s and became part of the Emley youth set-up in 1998.

When he went to university, he joined Bangor City and was part of a side including former Manchester United midfielder Clayton Blackmore which enjoyed terrific success.

That was particularly so in 2000, when they not only won the Welsh FA Cup (beating Cwmbran Town) but played in the UEFA Cup against Halmstad of Sweden.

“It was a fantastic experience and the highlight of my career at 19,” smiled Hazelden.

“Halmstad were in the top four in Sweden and five of their team went on to play in Euro 2000. The lad I was marking played 12 times for the national side and scored a few goals.”

Hazelden also played for Newtown in Wales before joining Ossett Albion and winning the Northern Counties East League Premier title.

From there he went to Glossop North End in the North West Counties before joining Emley, where he was players’ Player of the Year in 2009.

AFC were beaten 4-1 by Hall Road Rangers in their last outing in the FA Cup extra preliminary round (Dave Heagney getting their goal).