“I was always chasing the dream.”

In the heart of Tower Hamlets, where council estates line the streets and the sound of footballs echoes in every corner of Mile End, Adam Hussain’s story begins not with triumph but with relentless determination. A gifted left-footer, Adam was once a star player and his secondary school St Paul’s Way Trust School, a local football prodigy who lit up every team he played for and carried dreams of one day becoming a pro.

“I used to be in the cages every day after school. Didn’t matter if it was raining or freezing, I just was trying to improve,” Adam said, his voice calm but reflective. “That was my life growing up school, football, and the hope that someone would see me.”

Like so many kids raised in East London’s working class households’ football wasn’t just a game but a way out. Adam’s talent was undeniable, yet his dreams rested on being seen by the right eyes at the right time. After finishing secondary school, he enrolled at Newham College taking part in their football program in partnership with West Ham United, hoping to make that next step to their academy.

“I thought that was it, I thought I was so close,” he recalled. “You hear stories of scouts picking up players from those programs. I believed I had a chance.”

But the call never came.

After the West Ham door shut, Adam did not stop playing. He turned to the grassroots scene, joining teams like Vallance FC and Bromley by Bow FC, clubs that carry heart throughout Tower Hamlets football. These were not professional clubs by any means, but they offered something else, community, pride, and a chance to keep his love for the game alive.

“Playing for Bromley by Bow meant something,” Adam said. “It wasn’t about contracts or agents; it was about representing where you’re from.”

The club, founded in 1989, became a cornerstone for young players in that area, offering structure and purpose in a borough often overshadowed by the poverty and crime that takes place so often. Adam fit in quickly earning his reputation for his left foot and flair on the ball.

But as soon as he started gaining momentum again, he had an injury setback.

“I remember the moment, I went in for a challenge and just felt something was wrong,”

Adam recalled. “I tried to brush it off at first, but the pain hadn’t gone away.”

The injury turned out to be much worse than he expected. It sidelined him not just physically but mentally. For someone who spent years tying their identity to football, forced Adam into unfamiliar territory.

“It was the first time I’d had to stop and think about life without football,” he said. “It messed with my head a bit, not gonna lie.”

Today, Adam is no longer chasing football dreams. Instead, he has carved out a new space for himself, working in social media promotion for different companies and community groups. His Instagram feed highlights the creative drive that defines him now, from restaurant reels and food cinematography to behind-the-scenes shoots that highlight local businesses. The same dedication that once went into training in Mile End cages is now poured into visual storytelling.

“I’m still trying to find the thing that gives me the same satisfaction,” he admitted. “Football was everything. Nothing has ever matched that since.”

Adam doesn’t speak with bitterness, just pure honesty, there’s a strength that comes with the way he talks about his journey so far. The hours in the cage, the heartbreak of being overlooked, the injury that changed everything. It’s not a fairy tale, but it’s real.

Thousands of young talents suffer the same fate, big dreams possessing all the talent, shaped by their environment and the weight of expectation. For every player who makes it to the top, there are countless others whose journeys are just as intense, even if they do not end in stadium lights.

“I still play occasionally,” he said with a slight smile. “But mainly just for fun. It’s not the same but I’m learning how to be ok with that.” Adam’s spirit once made him stand out in school games and cage matches. The resilience, creativity, and connection to the community remain. Whether behind a camera or on a pitch, Adam Hussain is still creating and expressing himself. And maybe that’s enough.