Football is never the be-all and end-all for AFC Wimbledon’s Adebayo Akinfenwa.

Regardless of what fate befalls the Dons in next Monday’s League Two play-off final against Plymouth at Wembley, for the committed Christian, there will always be something greater than the emotional highs and lows of the game in which he has made his name.

There’s no doubting the love for the game of the man nicknamed The Beast.

It’s simply that faith provides a more dependable constant for the married father of four than a game where he knows only too well you are up one minute and down the next.

“What place does faith have in football? Every place,” Akinfenwa said.

“For me football is temporary where faith is forever. Whatever you do, your faith is the pinnacle, it’s everything. So, good, bad, or indifferent my faith comes into play.

“When things are going great God is blessing me; when things are going bad my faith gets me through that period. So faith is everything. That is true in every walk of life.”

That faith has been put to the test in the current campaign where, despite Neal Ardley’s side enjoying their best ever league season, Akinfewa has gone from leading man to support cast for much of the time.

AFC Wimbledon make it through to Wembley in pictures:

Like most footballers the 34-year-old admits he loathes life, but faith has taught him he can’t always be centre-stage.

However, having forced his way back into the reckoning with impressive cameos as substitute in both legs of the semi-final victory over Accrington he knows he could yet be a pivotal figure in the drama still to come.

“I haven’t been playing as much as I would have liked to this season and my faith gets me through that,” he added.

“You don’t focus on the negatives. I focus on the blessings in my life like waking up every morning and being able to do a job I love, that’s my blessings.

“Don’t focus on the fact you are not playing. Sometimes it can’t be about you and that’s what my faith has allowed me to realise.

“So, rather than concentrating on I’m not playing why am I not playing I remember everyone has their time and that is where my faith comes into play, balancing me and grounding me.”

Watch: Akinfenwa's brilliant response to pundit Ian Holloway

Video Loading
poll loading

Would you like to see Akinfenwa stay at AFC Wimbledon next season?