[7] When he failed to win a deal with the Berkshire club Gareth still chose to quit the forces in order to begin a football career at Bury.
[10] After three seasons at Bury, in the last of which he again finished as leading scorer, he rejected a new deal and instead joined Rushden & Diamonds on a Bosman free transfer in 2004.
In 2005, he returned to football and completed an entire season with North West Counties League side Padiham.
This extended break from the professional game allowed Seddon to recuperate and by March 2006 the illness had left his system.
[13] He joined up with his former Bury manager Andy Preece at Worcester City and played one match for the team on a non-contract basis in April 2006, scoring in a 3–2 win against Stalybridge Celtic.
He was set to sign for the Midlands team and agreed personal terms but baulked at the distance he would have to commute from his Accrington home.
[12] Despite interest from several fully professional Conference National clubs such as Morecambe, Seddon chose to continue his recuperation at part-time level and joined Hyde United in the summer of 2006.
In a game against Bradford Park Avenue, Seddon scored in the club's 1–1 draw in the West Yorkshire derby, however he was also awarded a red card for an off the ball incident.