THIS should be the time for Chester FC’s players to kick back, relax and bask in the glory of leading the club into the non-league top flight.

But that could not be further from the truth for one key member of Neil Young’s title-winning squad.

For centre-back Paul Linwood will spend the months before the start of pre-season building up his fledgling courier company, Across Britain Couriers.

“The football season has been unbelievable for me back at the club, it couldn’t have gone any better, but while some of the lads may be looking forward to a chilled out summer, I’ve got a business to run,” said Linwood, a former Chester City captain.

“I’m the managing director and I need to make sure it is all running smoothly as well as mucking in when I can because the more driving you do, the more profit you get.

“Me and my business partner do as much as we can and people seem to like the fact that we keep it personal and we’re two young lads who are prepared to graft.

“We’ve got motorbikes and pedal bikes round town dropping letters off. We’ve got every sized van, trucks, we do an escorted mail service – absolutely everything.

“It’s going really well. It’s been a long slog getting it all together but we’ve done everything by the book – it’s a limited company – and it’s really starting to pick up.”

It was when Linwood left Grimsby Town – the club he joined after Chester City – in 2010 that he began to seriously think about his life after football.

“Football can be well paid and can give you a glamorous lifestyle but when you’re out of contract and you don’t know where your next pay packet is coming from it’s a real worry,” said the 29-year-old, a married father of one.

“I made a vow to myself that even if I’m ever out of contract they’ll be no worries on my behalf as I’ll always have something to pay the bills.”

But it wasn’t until last summer, after he was released by Fleetwood Town, that Across Britain Couriers came into being.

“We got into the play-offs and were promoted to the Football League in my time at Fleetwood, but behind the scenes it wasn’t going great,” said Linwood, whose partner Andrew Cross has a wealth of experience and contacts in the courier business.

“I had two operations and in the last season I only played three games, so the football was not going great.

“I had to take it upon myself to make sure me and my family were looked after.”

Birkenhead-born Linwood began to feel he was cursed after back-to-back relegations with Chester City and Grimsby were followed by an injury-hit spell at Fleetwood.

But his experiences this season, back at the Exacta Stadium, has reinvigorated his love for the game.

“Everything has just gone to plan,” said the ex-Tranmere Rovers defender, who is also somehow finding the time to study for a physiotherapy degree.

“I knew we would be up there challenging as I knew Neil as a manager and all his teams had done great.

“The squad he had put together would have been strong in any league but to run away with it, getting to 100 points and 100 goals, is beyond even the most loyal Chester fan’s dreams.

“The relationship between the fans, players, staff and the people who work for the club is absolutely brilliant.

“Football has turned fun, but hopefully it is clear I still go out there every week and give 100%.”

For more information on Across Britain Couriers visit www.acrossbritaincouriersltd.co.uk or call 0845 600 7073.

The company also has Twitter (@ABCouriers) and Facebook (Across Britain Couriers) pages.

Linwood said: “Chester fans and everyone else out there, if you use a courier for your business or at your place at work, give us a call and we will sort out a meeting and make sure you get our best possible deal.”