One minute you’re a carpenter, the next you’re a cult hero – ladies and gentlemen: welcome to the FA Cup.
When Danny Wright, then at non-League Histon, lined up against Swindon Town in 2008, little did he know his heroics that day would go down in Cup folklore and would be the launchpad for a full-time career in the game.
“I was a carpenter while I was at Histon, working 40 hours a week and also training three times a week,” he explained.
“We won the Conference South under Steve Fallon and John Beck. We weren't pretty, but we were effective. I was up front with Jack Midson for one season and we worked well together. We went up to the Conference and were unlucky not to go up again.”
There were two divisions between upwardly mobile Histon and Swindon Town at the time, but the Stutes made light of the supposed gulf in class by dominating their League One opponents and ultimately knocking them out, with then-Robins manager Maurice Malpas calling the defeat “embarrassing”.
Wright, who came close to signing for Premier League-bound Watford in 2006, scored the winner, swivelling inside the box to smash home Lanre Oyebanjo's corner and send Bridge Road into raptures.
“Some of our players showed today they are capable of playing at a higher level and against a higher opposition,” Histon boss Fallon said after the game.
Fallon’s words proved prophetic with Wright and co pulling off an even bigger shock in the next round by eliminating the mighty Leeds United, Cup winners in 1972.
It was the first – and so far only – time Histon had made it to the third round of the FA Cup where they eventually lost in a replay to Championship side Swansea City, then under the guidance of Roberto Martinez, who would go on to lead Wigan to Cup glory in 2013.
As for Wright, he, as Fallon had predicted, would go on to enjoy a fruitful career higher up the ladder, initially leaving Histon for nearby Cambridge City.
“When I joined Cambridge I was able to focus fully on football,” said Wright.
“Pre-season there was tough. I would get home from training and just sleep, have a bit of tea and sleep again until training the next day. I got into my stride at Cambridge.”
His next move was to Wrexham, where he would enjoy FA Trophy success in 2013, having helped the Red Dragons get to Wembley by scoring in each leg of their semi-final win over Gainsborough Trinity.
Spells at Forest Green Rovers, Gateshead and Kidderminster Harriers followed before a life-changing transfer to Cheltenham Town.
Wright was adored at Whaddon Road, picking up the supporters' player of the year award during their National League title-winning campaign of 2015-16.
This promotion allowed Wright, then aged 31, to realise his dream of playing in the Football League. He scored his first league goal on his 32nd birthday, a penalty in a 2-2 draw at Newport County.
And where is Wright now? Back in the National League, this time with Solihull Moors, where he led the line as Tim Flowers' side cruised past Oxford City in the Emirates FA Cup first round on Saturday.
