Tony Sinclair put pen to paper on a one-year deal at Gillingham on Thursday to end a period away from the game and a journey through non-league football.

The defender (pictured) started life at the Gills as a teenager on the club’s YTS programme but the South Londoner quit halfway through after admitting to losing his way.

He went from one job to another, from McDonald’s to Sainsbury’s and even tried his hand at carpentry and carpet fitting, before eventually getting his life in football back on track.

"Flipping burgers wasn’t all that!" he said. "Now I am grateful and want to kick on for myself, the gaffer, the boys and the fans."

For Sinclair it’s been a tough lesson but one he feels he’s learned a lot from. He said: "It was hard for me growing up and it wasn’t so much me keeping my feet on the ground.

"I suppose I started to get disheartened and I was a bit too critical on myself maybe when I was younger."

A move to Beckenham started his road to recovery.

Stays at Fisher, Welling and then Woking last summer followed. It was while at Woking that he caught the eye of Hessenthaler.

The Gills have signed Sinclair, now 25, on a one-year deal but have an option of a second season if he impresses further.

"It’s down to me now," said Sinclair. "I know that if I do well and work hard then hopefully Gillingham will take up that option and we can progress from there."

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