He had just been informed within the inner sanctum of Billy Bremner's Leeds United that, at the age of 16, he had no future in the game when all that had consumed him were dreams of incredible goalscoring exploits, cup finals and league titles.

Fortunately for this diehard of the semi-professional game the Forces and sport are inextricably linked and it wasn't long before he was changing out of uniform and into another dress mode in which he felt most comfortable.

Now a 35-year-old fireman, the Farsley Celtic striker-made-midfielder looks forward to a new season just one tier below Football League status and back on a time in which the game he never really stopped loving bestowed high honour upon him.

"I'd played for the Combined Services in the army when there was very stiff competition for places," says Leeds-born Simeon "and it was an easy decision when I left for me to join my local side Garforth Town.

"Then I linked up with Emley and soon there was talk of an international tournament for semi-pros being instigated. I must have made somebody sit up and take notice because the England team I was called into for a warm-up game against British Universities at Burton Albion's old ground was made up almost exclusively of Conference players.

"So I've played for England! And there was a little memento and an England watch – which I've still got – handed out afterwards."

Bambrook has been a regular 20-goals-a-season man throughout his career, even breaking through the 30 barrier in one remunerative term at Emley.

But he feels a little coy about all the glory which came his way when, in a memorable end to last season, he scored the deciding penalty for Farsley in a play-off semi-final against Kettering and blasted home a last-minute spot kick in a remarkable 4-3 victory over Hinckley United in the final.

"Yes, I did all the interviews and figured in the headlines and the pictures – I've even got the DVD, which I play over and over – but in truth those things only diluted the incredible efforts put in by every member of the team," he says.

"To score the winning penalty in the 89th minute in a 4-3 is Roy Of The Rovers stuff but again, in the cold light of day, it wouldn't be the best penalty I've taken. I just made sure I had my head over the ball and that it was on target. Really, it just sneaked in."

Being part of the Farsley fairytale is what is keeping Simeon so young at heart and he confesses: "I feel as good at 35 as I did at 25. I'm looking to get another couple of seasons and if I'm part of the squad that gets Farsley into the Football League then that's my name carved in a little bit of history."

He remains conscious, however, of the advancing years and promises: "No-one will have to tell me when to hang up the boots. Those who've been there say your body tells you that. I've seen it with a few people over the years.

They've completely gone but insist on turning out and you feel like going over to them and saying 'Just call it a day mate'.

"There's no way I'll be embarrassing myself like that. It's just demeaning."

Even if there's the odd tweak next season where once there were none, it's a safe bet that the pumping adrenalin will see Simeon through.

"You know, this is the first close season in which I haven't felt any pressure," he says. "Nobody is expecting much of Farsley at this level so, to a degree, the heat is off. But then you can bet your bottom dollar that the manager, Lee Sinnott, is expecting plenty of Farsley at this level so we'll be reaching for the stars for him.

"Just looking at the fixture list gets the heart racing. We start off against Stafford, who are part-timers, but then we're straight into Rushden who, by these standards, are flush with money and talent and have a high-profile recent history.

"It's absolutely vital that we get off to a flier. I'd hate to be in a position at Christmas in which we aren't faring well in a game of catch-up. That brings real pressure. Points in the bank are what the first few weeks are all about."

Talking of points, today is the day that the club he has always supported and once might have played for learns its fate at an appeal over a 15-point deduction going into a Coca-Cola League One campaign.

"I'm not one of those Leeds fans who complains every time something goes wrong," he says. "I'm pretty much a realist and I believe Leeds deserved that punishment just as they deserved their relegations from the Premiership and the Championship.

"You hear even now that we won't do much good without Healy and Cresswell but, excuse me, were they not among those players who got the team relegated? They can't have been that good, can they?"

Such candour can be expressed only by someone with great knowledge of the game gleaned at a good level.

And when he is finished playing, Simeon Bambrook will have plenty to pass on to those trying to make their way in the game.

For the next nine months, though, the opposition in the Blue Square Premier will be on the receiving end of a left peg so lethal that its owner goes by the soubriquet The Hammer.