Tom Laxton was born in Whipps Cross Hospital, Leytonstone and grew up in Buckhurst Hill, Essex.

As a young boy he attended the West Hatch High School in Chigwell. Laxton always had a dream as a kid, to play professional football, having been a good midfielder with youth teams Buckhurst Hill and later Ridgeway Rovers, and felt he could make in the big time.

At the age of 14 he joined the academy at Tottenham Hotspur and two years later moved to Leyton Orient after being spotted by Peter Johnson, head of the centre of excellence.

I caught up with Laxton at his office in Brisbane, Australia.

He said: "We had a really good youth team at the time with players like Gabby Zakuani, who was later sold to Fulham for £1m, Jason Demetriou, who later went onto play for Cyprus in Wold Cup qualifying games, Boniek Forbes, Donny Barnard, goalkeeper Paul Jones and Efe Echanomi among others.

"At the age of 16 my big aim at Orient was to gain a professional contract, it was tough for me, most of those mentioned above had already gained a contract and there was only one spot left."

He continued: "During training I remember I had to walk past at least 40 trialists playing on two pitches for a few nights all vying for that one spot.

"Thankfully my coach Dave Cook really believed in me and I managed to hit some great form during a very nervous time. I was signed by the O’s youth boss Ian Culverhouse and was very chuffed with myself.

"I really wanted to make it as a professional and get into the first team, although during my stay it didn’t really happen for me with plenty of youth and reserve appearances. But I just couldn’t get into Paul Brush’s and Martin Ling’s first team squad.

"I left the O’s in 2005 but I gained a really fantastic footballing education which helped my throughout my career.

"During my time with the club I started to coach the juniors at the centre of excellence and it was Gary Karsa, head of the centre who gave me that chance."

After leaving he joined Dagenham & Redbridge before going into part-time football with Redbridge, Aveley, Waltham Abbey and Potters Bar while also studying sports science at the University of East London obtaining a Bachelor’s Degree in Sports and Exercise Science.

He then joined Karsa at the Wycombe Wanderers Academy before working with the Watford Academy.

Laxton said: "It was in March 2015 that I moved to Australia to play for the Brisbane Premier League side Mitchelton FC. "e finished third in the league and then I went onto play for Brisbane City.

"In September I was appointed Brisbane City’s technical director and the first thing I want to do is to introduce a centre of excellence at this club, something that helped me achieve my footballing goals from my early years with the Orient. 

"I also thank my family and friends back in London on their encouragement on making for myself a successful career in Brisbane, Australia a far cry from playing in those wet and cold days at Brisbane Road.

"But believe me, I enjoyed every single minute and I still follow their results, I was sorry to read another O’s manager has been sacked but hopefully the next incumbent can get the boys into at least the play-offs."