MattGardner15
07-16-2007, 04:34 PM
I started out my career at Arsenal and my youth team coach had mentioned to the manager that I was ready for first team footy at the age of 16. I knew it would be tough to make an impact, but I had confidence in my own ability. As it turned out I wasn't good enough. I played just over 20 games for the club, many as a sub, but the club felt that I was a player that couldn't set the world alight and I was sold to Brighton. I was a striker who had failed to score in his first 25 games. I only felt like giving up football. But in my next game something magical happened. I found myself clean through on goal and without a moments hesitation lashed it past the keeper. I was ecstatic. The relief was huge and I was amazed that I had finally scored. But then two minutes later I was in the area when I smashed the ball goalward it was a great finish and I had scored, not once, but twice. And it got even better. I layed in my striker partner who cooly lofted the ball over the keeper to secure the points.
Two games later I was dropped to the bench and the team began to murder any team in sight. But I was not a part of it and I felt resentment towards the manager, but against Tranmere I showed my potential with a stunning solo goal. I beat three defenders and let rip from 25 yards it beat the keeper. We were a goal down and it game in the 88th minute talk about dramatic! Surely the manager had to give me another chance. But no, against Stockport I watched from the sidelines as we won 2-1. Frustrated I changed in silence and went home without saying a word. I knew that I had no chance of playing again before the end of the season and I wished that I could find my form. I had scored just 3 goals in over 30 games. I made two more appearances. I spent most of the season as a bench warmer with just 3 goals to my career and was bitterly disappointed.
Season 2: My Year?
Two games later I was dropped to the bench and the team began to murder any team in sight. But I was not a part of it and I felt resentment towards the manager, but against Tranmere I showed my potential with a stunning solo goal. I beat three defenders and let rip from 25 yards it beat the keeper. We were a goal down and it game in the 88th minute talk about dramatic! Surely the manager had to give me another chance. But no, against Stockport I watched from the sidelines as we won 2-1. Frustrated I changed in silence and went home without saying a word. I knew that I had no chance of playing again before the end of the season and I wished that I could find my form. I had scored just 3 goals in over 30 games. I made two more appearances. I spent most of the season as a bench warmer with just 3 goals to my career and was bitterly disappointed.
Season 2: My Year?