PRE-season may be loathed by footballers, but for North Ferriby defender Dean Lisles, it's a chance to get his career back on track.
Lisles was involved in a horrific car crash on his way to training in January, breaking his ankle amongst other injuries.
It was his first season for the Villagers as they pressed for promotion to Conference North but the 21-year-old's career was suddenly plunged into doubt.
He watched on, almost like an outsider, as his team-mates went on to win an unprecedented treble.
After almost seven months of hard work and rehabilitation, Lisles returned to action last week for Ferriby and has his sights set on playing his part for Billy Heath in the fifth tier of English football.
"It's a massive relief to be back playing," Lisles told the Mail.
"When I saw the pictures of the car afterwards it looked bad and I was lucky to scramble free from the wreckage with the injuries I did.
"Paramedics and staff at York Hospital were brilliant with me.
"I knew I had to work hard on my rehab at Lilleshall which wasn't easy.
"I never thought my career was over but it did give me a fright because I' had never had an operation and things began running through my head.
"Seeing the other players play motivated me to get back playing with them and now I am.
"I missed the buzz on the pitch and I want to get to that stage.
"It's not going to be easy getting into the team but my motivation is there."
Lisles admits reaching some dark places in the aftermath of his accident, and even though he had to teach himself how to run properly with the use of protective insoles in his boots, all is positive now
"I didn't realise until after some rehab sessions how to run properly," Lisles said.
"I was over-compensating on one side so I was shown the importance of biometrics and how I should be running.
"I'm getting there and it's about getting used to having the insoles in my boots.
"They are proper PFA recommended insoles and they are making a difference."
Lisles was still getting used to the insoles as he made his comeback last week in the 3-0 win at Worksop.
"I was out warming up in training one night and something didn't feel right," Lisles said.
"I rushed in to the changing rooms and told Billy.
"He told me not to panic and he'd have a look.
"He then told me that I had put the left insole into my right boot and the right one into the left.
"It was a bit embarrassing, but I'm just glad to be back playing."
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