DREAM TEAM
THE ENFIELD TOWN STRIKER PIECES TOGETHER A BEST EVER XI OF PLAYERS HE HAS PLAYED ALONGSIDE…
GK: ALAN JULIAN
I get on with him really well outside of football but on the football pitch he’s a leader, a voice in the changing room and a top keeper – his career has obviously shown that. Even when we were winning games he saved us a lot. I saw he was in Team of the Week the other day, he’s still producing week-in, week-out.
RCB: IAN SIMPEMBA
I played with him at Dover for 18 months and he was solid. Training against him it was impossible to get round him. He always used to kick you as well! A nightmare to play against but great to have on your team. Popped up with a goal or two but he just loved defending.
CB: SHANE HUKE
He struggled with injuries a bit but when he played alongside Simpemba, Hukey got an injury which ruled him out for the season and we slipped out of the play-offs. That season for five or six months he was unbelievable. Athletic, a good header, scored goals, a great lad off the pitch, the only problem was an injury here and there.
LCB: AIDEN PALMER
Not so much a centre-back – he’s more of a left-back really – but you’d trust him there anyway. On the ball so good, defensively class, everything you’d want from a left-back. Palms was quality. Another one that struggled with injuries which was a shame.
RW: RICKY MODESTE
I played with him at Dover, Billericay and Chelmsford. He was always an outlet, he could win you a game in two seconds. You knock the ball over the top and he’d be onto it, probably the quickest player I’ve ever played with. Left and right-footed, good crosser, scores every type of goal, a top player and still playing week-in, week-out at Dover.
CM: DAVE RAINFORD
He was Mr Captain, Mr Chelmsford. I went there when I was 21, he ran the dressing room, ran the club. Penalty taker, freekick taker – he led the whole team. He’d come down from Dagenham in the Football League and you could tell. He’d take warm-ups and sometimes training. Glen Pennyfather was manager but Rains was pretty much in charge of the boys in the changing room.
CM: DARYL MCMAHON
The best player I’ve played with. Some of the stuff he used to do... I’d watch him thinking, ‘What are you doing at this level?’ He was miles ahead of everyone. When we used to travel to Dover, he was a coach at Dagenham U18s at the time and he’d always have sessions drawn out on his pad. You knew he’d be a manager, 100 per cent. He’ll go further too. His attention to detail is too high. He’s addicted to it. If he joined in with training now at Dagenham, he’d probably still be the best player there!
CM: SAM DEERING
He’s class. When we signed him at Billericay, he’d run every game. A pure footballer. Every player will tell you the same thing. Could find passes you couldn’t see. With this midfield you probably wouldn’t need strikers!
LWB: ROBBIE WILMOT
In terms of technical ability, probably the best I’ve played with. I played with him at Chelmsford and he went to Newport County in League Two at the end of the season. I left in December to go to Billericay – I think he already had about 30 assists, I’m not exaggerating! Shamir Mullins, who got a move to Forest Green, did really well but Robbie probably got him it with the amount of balls he put on his head! Like a Non-League Beckham.
CF: JAKE ROBINSON
What I like about him is he won’t do anything for half an hour, an hour, then bang, he scores. At Billericay he had that season where everything he touched went in. He’s top drawer. He knows what he’s doing, good finisher, instinctive and knows where to be.
CF: BEN MAY
He was my strike partner for three-and-a-half years. He used to take every knock for me. The strongest player I’ve played with. He’d win every header, make goals, score goals, proper old-school centre forward. A top man as well.
Subs: Preston Edwards (gk), Anthony Cook, Rob Swaine, Matt Godden, Frannie Collin