David Beckham's recent Christmas address on his blog was a heavily vetted, lifeless lump of words. "Good to spend some time with the family in the lead up to Christmas . . . have a great Xmas everybody . . . yadda yadda . . . blah-de-nothing." I paraphrase.

Half the world away, meanwhile, in a humble hotel room in Ankara, his former England teammate Darius Vassell was blogging his heart out. In listless, lonely streams of consciousness, the 29-year-old fading star was documenting a sleepless night. "Lying awake in bed, the sound of the air conditioning is like the engine room to a train of stressful thoughts . . . relentless."

What's that – a football blogger actually blogging? And, hold on, was that a simile?

Last year wasn't great for the Sutton Coldfield-born player. After blossoming as a regular England player under Sven-Göran Eriksson in the mid-noughties, he finished last season as Manchester City's ninth-choice striker – pushed down the pecking order by a cavalcade of big-money players after the club was taken over by an Abu Dhabi consortium. When his contract expired in July, Vassell was shown the door.

His next move changed everything. Rather than signing for a lesser Premier League side, Vassell was wooed by the millionaire chairman of Ankaragucu, a habitually struggling team based in the Turkish capital. He was the club's highest-profile signing in its 100-year history and, when he arrived at Ankara airport, 3,000 fans were there to meet him. As a shocked Vassell emerged through the arrivals gate, they festooned him with scarves. The bemused star was hustled out of the terminal, where 50 buses and 250 cars tailed him to his hotel. A video of the furore appeared on YouTube, much to the amazement of football fans in the UK.

But five months later, an uninspiring return of three goals in 11 appearances has left Vassell's new club in all sorts of turmoil. Beset with financial problems, in November Ankaragucu failed to pay Vassell's hotel bill and he was evicted. Which is when he began sharing his loneliness with the internet, starting his second post with a short poem: "People want money, people want goals, they want me to stay, but i'm missing my home. The smile on my face, disguises the case, I bury the truth deep down in my soul."

His outpourings quickly struck a chord. For expat Brits, he became an unlikely touchstone – readers from Japan and Russia have written to thank Vassell, telling him of their own long-distance lives. Turkish fans have also been quick to respond with practical help – translating the incessant local press reports about Vassell's future for him (rumours surfaced again this week that he is about to be sold to another Turkish club); explaining local customs such as sacrificing goats; and congratulating him on getting engaged to his partner Amani – who is, of course, back home in England.

Snippets from Vassell's blog

8 December

I feel like there is something stirring, boiling . . . something about to happen. Things are changing, just need to know if it's for the good or bad. Today i'm shown reports that Ankaragucu fans don't want me here . . . Now my mom is worried.

15 December

Can't get any sleep, just thinking about the many problems that i have here and the best solution. Lying there awake in bed, the sound of the air conditioning is like the engine room to a train of stressful thoughts . . . relentless. I need a plan of action.

16 December

Witnessed a car accident today outside my hotel . . . A taxi lost control and virtually wiped another car out . . . Quite a shocking but familiar sight. Now back in my room, i wonder if i could ever fully learn this language?? My favourite sentence is "Bier cay lutfen?" [one tea please] but there is only so much Turkish tea that i can drink before the novelty wears off.

21 December

I watched a goat get sacrificed at training camp a few months back; it was at this moment i realised i am an animal lover . . . I think the sacrificing of goats is normal here but i wonder if some people find it hard to witness like me. Anyone want to comment or elaborate? I know that this is done at Eid, but when else am i likely to encounter?

2 January

Had a much needed break and am proud to announce my engagement to my beautiful partner Amani . . . I also managed to setup a live webcam of my dog's bedroom . . . His terminal illness may mean it's the last time i will see him, so i spend extra time saying goodbye and ensuring he will be looked after. It's almost like a movie and i'm playing the lead role, heading off to war and saying bye to my family in a backdrop of tear jerking music, while the audience eats their popcorn . . .

The cold London air reminds me to wear my scarf as i travel back to Turkey. As i tie my yellow and blue Ankaragucu scarf around my neck i realise it's too tight a fit, and contemplate whether this is a metaphor or am i just being too cynical.

I leave the scarf in the car. Can one of my fans please send me a new scarf? The one i had was given to me on the day i arrived in Turkey.