Walsall midfielder Charlie Lakin reflects on Birmingham City departure and pathway to Bescot

The Walsall midfielder had spent 13 years of his life at his boyhood club and achieved his childhood dream of playing for the Blues which is something he did 16 times in total.

But aged 22, Lakin needed first team minutes and knew deep down that his love affair with Birmingham had to come to an end. 

"It is hard. Being there for so long and being under contract there as well was hard. But after previous seasons of being on loan and playing games, I just thought it was the right time in my career to push on and play as many games as possible," he reflects.

"But it's difficult especially being a fan and being there so long. You know everyone around the place and to go and start afresh at a new club where you don't really know anyone is tough but it's something I felt I needed at that time of my career." 

But the memories of his stint in the first team at St Andrew's still brings a smile to his face whenever Lakin looks back.

"Making my Birmingham was the proudest moment of my career. It was something that I dreamed about and I managed to do that," he recalls.

"I was young at the time but the experience was next to none. Gary Monk was excellent with me. He didn't just throw me under the bus, he talked me through it and helped me on and off the pitch."

Fast forward three years and Lakin has experienced a rollercoaster career with three loan spells during a mixed spell at Burton Albion. 

He initially started as a regular at Burton under Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink but became surplus to requirements under his successor Dino Maamria. 

Injuries continued to hamper his progression until a goal-laden loan spell at Sutton United revived his career and propelled him on to Walsall's radar. 

Lakin scored eight times and set-up five more in 21 appearances for Sutton during the second half of the previous campaign. 

His arrival coincided with a late attempt at a relegation rescue mission which eventually saw Sutton slip out of the Football League by an agonising three points. 

But Lakin has fond memories of his time in South London despite it ending in the disappointment of relegation.

"I've not got a bad word to say about Sutton. The gaffer was outstanding with me on and off the pitch. The lads were brilliant and it was harsh the way we did go down," he concludes.

"If we had another two or three more games then I think we would've stayed up. But it was good for me personally to go out there and play pretty much every game since I went in. 

"I got the stats that I needed to get which is one of the main aims when I went there. 

"It was disappointing to get relegated but I enjoyed my time there."