From the Cypriot third tier to the Isthmian League North Division, it has been some journey for Heybridge Swifts star Kreshnic Krasniqi.
The midfielder is one of non-league football’s most interesting characters but it is on the pitch where he prefers to do the talking and, so far, he is doing a fine job along with his teammates.
Whatever the outcome of Saturday’s Buildbase FA Trophy second round clash with Maidstone United, it has been a memorable season for Heybridge Swifts fans.
Just two months ago, they reached the Emirates FA Cup first round, a remarkable achievement for a Level 8 club and now the spotlight is back on them ahead of Saturday’s match, where again they will be the underdogs.
Krasniqi will hope to start and add a bit of class to the middle of the pitch. The Londoner started his career at Dagenham & Redbridge but was scouted by Cypriot side Ormideia and went on to play for Ethnikos Achna and THOI Lakatamia before returning to England two years ago.“I was a schoolboy at Dagenham and then a scout saw me playing for a local team, and they approached me to go to Cyprus and then it went from there,” he said.
“I always wanted to play abroad and the situation came up where they said there’s a club looking for young players.
“When you’re playing you enjoy it but when you’re injured and your far from home you feel alone, like you’re in a small cage.
“I came back because of family issues and I needed to be closer to home and a friend of mine recommended me to Billericay under Craig Edwards.
“I then ended up playing Heybridge in the cup and when Craig left [Heybridge manager] Jody Brown made a few phone calls asking if I was available on loan because I wasn’t playing under Glenn Tamplin.
“Then I went to Barking and my first game was against Heybridge believe it or not, and then Jody contacted me again and he sold me the dream to come here!”
Heybridge did not manage to upset Exeter in the FA Cup but Krasniqi is adamant they have the quality to reach the FA Trophy third round and continue their fine campaign.
“The good thing is we don’t go out there and expect to lose, we expect to fight and if we lose giving a battle then we give credit to ourselves if that makes sense,” Krasniqi added.
“When we do play these teams we just see it as a chance to play at a higher level.”
Did you know?
Heybridge Swifts striker Joan Luque once played against Chelsea star Alvaro Morata when he helped Spanish side Cornella reach the quarter-finals of the youth version of the 2010 Copa Del Rey.
FA Trophy history
Heybridge Swifts reached the quarter-finals of the Buildbase FA Trophy in 1996-97 and have enjoyed more success in their history than Maidstone United.
This is the third time the Kent side have reached the second round but they fell at this hurdle on their previous two appearances in 2009-10 and 2012-13.
The prize
The winner secures £7,000 in prize money and a place in the third round.
