MattGardner15
12-12-2009, 03:06 AM
Standing out on the Roots Hall pitch after our final league game of what had been an eventful first season in league football, I imagined what next year would hold for us. We had finished a respectable 13th when many pundits were tipping us for the drop. I was 16 and after a handful of reserve appearances last year, I was into the deep end. At home to Doncaster. It was a dream come true to be playing for my local side. That opening game started well, taking on a few players and knocking the ball about nicely. I lasted the full 90 and didn't feel out of place. Maybe my strength let me down, but a mistake by me led to Doncaser grabbing a late equaliser.
The gaffer was too unhappy and kept faith in me. I started every game up until December and had nothced a pretty impressive 12 goals in 25 appearances. I was in good form and I was being tipped as one to watch in the lower leagues. I began to miss a few games through injuries. Coming into Feburary we were 3rd in the table, but with me sidelined we began to drop down the league at an alarming speed. I returned mid-way through March. The manager welcomed my return and handed me the captains armband, due to out regular skipper being suspended. The game went well, I notched two more goals and I was beggining to think that maybe we could claw our way back into the promotion battle. As it turned out we couldn't. Those two goals in March were the last I scored for 5 weeks. We we're down in 15th on a run of 7 games without a single point. I scored my first goal in that time away to Rochdale, nodding in a corner from 4 yards.
The next week we realised there were 9 games left in the season and that we were still in danger of suffering relegation. The training sessions that week was unrecognisable and the mood changed. We were determined to end this run. However travelling to top of the league Bristol Rovers wasn't the best way to end it. We dominated the game missing a hatful of chances. We should of come away with at least a point. But we were beaten 5-0. The players were devastated and I was beggining to feel like I was losing faith with the lads and the boss. My girlfriend at the time could see what I was going through and how hard things were. We moved into together and I began to play with more confidence and flair. Our next home game saw us hit top gear and within 2-0 minutes we had scored twice. I added a third, then a fourth, and then a fifth 2 minutes from time. My first hat trick. The fans applauded us from the pitch and the confidence amongst the lads was back. We drew out next 3 games 1-1 and I scored all the goals.We travelled away to Orient and I notched another 2 goals. Southend were now the top scorers in the division and I had notched 20 goals. I was delighted with the way things had turned out. There was a bit of interest from a few clubs but nothing came of it. And as I ran out for the final game of the season at Roots Hall against Torquay, the fans gave me the biggest cheer of all as my name was called out over the tannoy. But the cheers were replaced by boo's as we found ourselves 2-0 down in 10 minutes. But we didnt panic and by half time we had scored twice and found ourselves level. The manager told us to go out and enjoy ourselves. within 15 minutes we had scored twice more. We dominated the final half hour and added three more goals. With me grabbing 2 of them. When the whistle blew we knew that it had been an amazing performance, minus the first 10 minutes. We did a lap of the pitch and returned to the dressing room where I was presented with the man of the match award. And an even more impressive honour. I was voted the Division 3 player of the year.
That was the story of my first full season as a pro. And I can't wait till my second.
The gaffer was too unhappy and kept faith in me. I started every game up until December and had nothced a pretty impressive 12 goals in 25 appearances. I was in good form and I was being tipped as one to watch in the lower leagues. I began to miss a few games through injuries. Coming into Feburary we were 3rd in the table, but with me sidelined we began to drop down the league at an alarming speed. I returned mid-way through March. The manager welcomed my return and handed me the captains armband, due to out regular skipper being suspended. The game went well, I notched two more goals and I was beggining to think that maybe we could claw our way back into the promotion battle. As it turned out we couldn't. Those two goals in March were the last I scored for 5 weeks. We we're down in 15th on a run of 7 games without a single point. I scored my first goal in that time away to Rochdale, nodding in a corner from 4 yards.
The next week we realised there were 9 games left in the season and that we were still in danger of suffering relegation. The training sessions that week was unrecognisable and the mood changed. We were determined to end this run. However travelling to top of the league Bristol Rovers wasn't the best way to end it. We dominated the game missing a hatful of chances. We should of come away with at least a point. But we were beaten 5-0. The players were devastated and I was beggining to feel like I was losing faith with the lads and the boss. My girlfriend at the time could see what I was going through and how hard things were. We moved into together and I began to play with more confidence and flair. Our next home game saw us hit top gear and within 2-0 minutes we had scored twice. I added a third, then a fourth, and then a fifth 2 minutes from time. My first hat trick. The fans applauded us from the pitch and the confidence amongst the lads was back. We drew out next 3 games 1-1 and I scored all the goals.We travelled away to Orient and I notched another 2 goals. Southend were now the top scorers in the division and I had notched 20 goals. I was delighted with the way things had turned out. There was a bit of interest from a few clubs but nothing came of it. And as I ran out for the final game of the season at Roots Hall against Torquay, the fans gave me the biggest cheer of all as my name was called out over the tannoy. But the cheers were replaced by boo's as we found ourselves 2-0 down in 10 minutes. But we didnt panic and by half time we had scored twice and found ourselves level. The manager told us to go out and enjoy ourselves. within 15 minutes we had scored twice more. We dominated the final half hour and added three more goals. With me grabbing 2 of them. When the whistle blew we knew that it had been an amazing performance, minus the first 10 minutes. We did a lap of the pitch and returned to the dressing room where I was presented with the man of the match award. And an even more impressive honour. I was voted the Division 3 player of the year.
That was the story of my first full season as a pro. And I can't wait till my second.