When Adebayo Akinfenwa turns out for Wycombe Wanderers in the third round of the FA Cup, he will undoubtedly cop plenty of flak from the visiting Preston North End fans.

Weighing in at over 100kg, Akinfenwa has been dubbed ‘The Beast’ by his own supporters but opposition followers have used the striker’s size to ridicule him over the years.

Throughout his career the 35-year-old has just about heard it all from fans, with shouts ranging from ‘your tits are offside’ to ‘you’re just a fat Eddie Murphy’.

Transfers: Players that are out of contract in 2018 Show all 43 1 /43 Transfers: Players that are out of contract in 2018 Transfers: Players that are out of contract in 2018 Luke Shaw Following strong criticism from his own manager and pundits, after a series of long-term injuries, the former-Saint looks set to leave Old Trafford after four seasons that has seen him make only 53 appearances for United. Man Utd via Getty Images Transfers: Players that are out of contract in 2018 Ander Herrera Manchester United have a one-year option they can invoke in the Spaniard’s contract should they wish to extend his stay at Old Trafford. Nemanja Matic’s arrival has limited the midfielder’s opportunities with the majority of his appearances this season coming from the bench. Man Utd via Getty Images Transfers: Players that are out of contract in 2018 Jack Wilshere Having struggled with injuries for years the Arsenal academy graduate has played in Arsenal’s previous four games. 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AFP/Getty Images Transfers: Players that are out of contract in 2018 Franck Ribery The Champions League winner, now 34, has struggled with injury this season, and has understandably looked rusty upon his return to the Bayern starting eleven. Bongarts/Getty Images Transfers: Players that are out of contract in 2018 Daley Blind Having made only 13 appearances for Mourinho’s side in all competitions this season, the versatile Dutchman has been linked with a move to Barcelona. Getty Images Transfers: Players that are out of contract in 2018 Ashley Young Following his conversion to full-back by manager Jose Mourinho, the 32-year-old has scored twice and provided four assists with his dangerous delivery from out wide. Teams in the Premier League will be keen to secure the former Aston Villa player’s experience next term. Man Utd via Getty Images Transfers: Players that are out of contract in 2018 Giorgio Chiellini At 33 the Italian centre-back is still a world-class player, and with less than a year on his contract, will surely be a bargain for whoever secures his services next summer. Getty Images Transfers: Players that are out of contract in 2018 Zlatan Ibrahimovic Undoubted class, but at 36, whether the Swede represents value for money is another matter, with the striker one of the highest paid players in the Premier League. Getty Images Transfers: Players that are out of contract in 2018 Fernando Torres The former Liverpool striker has had to settle for a place on the bench since his return to Atletico Madrid, behind Antoine Griezmann and Kevin Gameiro in the pecking order. A move away surely beckons for the 33-year-old. 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AFP/Getty Images Transfers: Players that are out of contract in 2018 Enes Unal Still only 20, the Turkish forward has seen his career stall since moving to Spain from Manchester City. Should the striker fail to sign a new contract with Villareal, a move back to the Eredivisie could prove fruitful for a striker with vast potential. Getty Images Transfers: Players that are out of contract in 2018 Ivan Marcano The Porto centre-back, also capable of playing left-back, has been the subject of interest from Everton following a number of impressive displays for the Iberian club. AFP/Getty Images Transfers: Players that are out of contract in 2018 Joao Miranda Former Atletico Madrid star Miranda has started all but one league game for Inter Milan this term helping his side keep eight clean sheets so far. Should he fail to renew his contract with the Nerazzuri, he will be a top acquisition for any side. 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As Akinfenwa points out, this is abuse. But as he leans back in his chair he is able to smile and joke about it. You are unlikely to find a footballer with thicker skin than him and when he begins to explain why, suddenly his infectious smile isn’t so catchy.

When Akinfenwa was just 18 he left London and a promising youth career at Watford to join Lithuanian club FK Atlantas. The move came about through his agent’s wife, who was from Lithuania and had connections at the club.

Akinfenwa promptly went over for a trial and within days a three-year contract had been placed in front of him. It was too good to turn down.

However, while it would go on to become a defining point in the striker’s career, it was not for the reasons he would have hoped.

Akinfenwa was just 18 he left London (Utilita Energy)

“I left London, a metropolitan city where I didn’t really have to deal with racism at 18, to go to a place where I was one of…a black person,” says Akinfenwa. “Then to get racial abuse. And I am talking about not hiding behind corners – I am talking about in your face racial abuse. It was overwhelming.

“I was talking to my brother where we went into the grocery store and I kid you not the whole shop stopped. It was me, my brother and my partner at the time. And the whole shop stopped. I remember they thought – what is going on?

“I had got used to it, so it became the norm that people were watching you like that. It defined me as a man to be able to not let that defeat me. So I was then able to deal with anything thrown at me when I got back here.”

Although his family did come to visit him, Akinfenwa was very much on his own out in Lithuania. There were no iPhones or WhatsApp to keep in touch with loved ones and laptops were “mad expensive”.

Akinfenwa looks back on his time in Lithuania without regrets (Utilita Energy)

Instead it was the local internet café and MSN Messenger that was the then teenager’s best way of getting back in touch with those in London.

And it is that sensation of feeling truly away from home, coupled with the level of racial abuse he received, which makes fat chants from fans today pale into insignificance for Akinfenwa.

“What I was trying to explain was the level of abuse I had,” he says. “I am not saying it makes it right. But when people are saying they want to shoot you because of the colour of your skin, to then saying you are a fat Eddie Murphy, for me I took the light-hearted side of it.

“It made me tough. It defined me as a man.”

Akinfenwa returned prepared for anything the world could throw at him (Utilita Energy)

Akinfenwa confesses now that he wouldn’t want go through what he did again. Although in a way he is glad he did as otherwise he would not be the person he is today.

“Have I got any regrets? Yeah, but I wouldn’t change it,” he says. “I wouldn’t change my story. I believe that everything that has happened has shaped me to the person I am today.

“It is the reason why I am where I am today. I am glad I went through it, but I wouldn’t want to do it again.”