Some real highs, and without doubt, some low times but I hope that what I've done during my time at Market Drayton has left a permanent mark on this great little club!

I never imagined that when I first went to watch Little Drayton Rangers that I'd sign a form after the game under the watchful eye of Deggy Birch and Andy Muir, and 18 years later I'd still be here! 750 plus games later, 296 goals and now the manager, you couldn't write it! What it has made me realise as I've become the manager, is how difficult it is for clubs of our size to function season after season when the support isn't fantastic and other clubs can always pay more! However we still keep surprising everyone with our hard working attitude and spirit, which has always been evident in successful Drayton sides!

None more so than the squad I played most my games with; the Simon Line era! It would be an understatement to say that all of those players were great friends on and off the pitch, regularly socialising together whilst producing some of the best performances on the pitch the club has ever seen! The biggest thing was that back then, players only treated money as a bonus and not a necessity; something that is seriously lacking in the modern game and, without sounding disrespectful, too many lads now get paid far too much to play at a level way below where they should be, and that is a waste of talent in my opinion and something lads will regret! As a manager I experience this first hand, trying to get good lads from a league or two lower to come and play for Drayton and they either moan about travelling or get paid as much if not more than we can give them. It's a real problem.

However I can't moan about the effort the lads that do come are putting in, which has lead to 8 wins out of 9 at home since Christmas, and for a second season in a row 50 points or more!

From a personal point of view I can take pride in the fact that I never sat down with any manager and talked money as I'd rather be playing for the club and treating it as a bonus, and I've even thrown some cheques away if I felt we hadn't done well enough or deserved anything for a performance!

I've been really lucky to play in some fantastic teams with some unbelievable players! Early years lads like Chris Hodgins, Luke Reynolds at Little Drayton and later on players like Gary Anslow, Tom Rogers, and so many more but without doubt the most talented player I played with was Stuart Ellis! Strong and quick enough, full of tricks and a wand of a left foot and I truly believe that after ripping Shrewsbury Town to shreds in a senior cup final. If it hadn't been for injuries, Stu would of been a professional footballer!

Playing under Simon Line's management team was fantastic for everyone, even if from time to time he'd let rip and give you the rocket up your backside that you needed! His vision and commitment to the cause was one of the main reasons why the club rose to the heights we are at now and as a club we should never forget that! Jimmy Mullen is also someone who I have huge respect for having played a lot of games for him, his coaching was unreal and he could get any player performing with his motivation, a true football legend! Lee Roberts, another local legend in the game, got the club moving in the early years and did a great job, and also was the man who bought in "Liner" and started the rise!

The work behind the scenes of a lot of people like Brian Garratt, Alec Mutch, Clive and Frank, Nicky, Pauline, Bob Mellor, but also Mark and Julian Parton for they're efforts in getting things like the ground up to speed, the minibus, kits, stands etc are also massive reasons why we have ended up at this level!

You only realise the importance of these kind of people when you become a manager or play more of a part behind the scene! The work done is on a voluntary basis and I know it's the same at every other club around this level, but we can only thank these people for there efforts in various roles within our clubs and a lot of the time they are the reason a lot of clubs continue through good times, as well as bad!

It's great to see other local sides in Shropshire pushing up the divisions and hopefully trying to replicate what we have achieved at Drayton! I pride myself on keeping close links with most local teams like Shawbury, Wem, Whitchurch and many more, and I believe that you need as many friends as you can in the game as you never no when you can help each other out, maybe loan a player, or go watch a match, sometimes just a chat with another manager about other teams or players!

The support of my friends and family over the years has been vital, my old man is at most home games and a lot of others have made finals or big league games!
The only thing that betters football is becoming a father, and I thank my partner Chloe for having my two boys, Ralph and Rufus, who are now at loads of games and they are already part of the furniture down at Greenfields!

To be given a testimonial was a shock and something I never thought would happen! Anyone that knows me will be fully aware of how much it means to me to still be part of the club as the manager and I thank the club for the opportunity! Forget about total appearances or overall goals, I'm a huge believer that if you can get lads that want to be at a football club regardless of money or travelling then you've got something to work with, and I can at least say I was and still am one of those!
Fingers crossed the game will go well on the 28th as I've tried to assemble a squad of old boys and legends that can at least have a good go at the current squad, although lack of fitness might be an issue!

In terms of the current squad I've put together, consistency has been an issue as has conceding goals this season! But it's the same at a lot of teams in the non league, and you can take defeats if the effort is there and if you get those great results, like home wins this year against Witton, Rushden & Diamonds, and Newcastle to name a few! The ability in the lads will bode well for next year if they want to stick together and the new faces have all settled well, so with a couple more I'm sure we can have another great year!

I hope to see a decent crowd down on the 28th which will officially be my last time walking out as a Market Drayton player (although I'll always help out), and I will be doing so with both my children which will be a special moment and something I'll never forget!

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