TOP TRUMP TARPEY HAS MARVELLED AT MARLOW
EXPERIENCED marksman Dave Tarpey says he will never get bored of scoring goals – it’s why, at 35, he loves the game more than ever.
The former Woking, Maidenhead and Farnborough front man netted 24 goals to help Marlow clinch promotion to Step 3 – not bad considering he only joined the Blues at the back end of November.
It capped another fine season for the former National League South Golden Boot winner, who is making up for lost time since rupturing his ACL in only his second appearance for Barnet in 2017.
And the veteran hitman says winning promotion for the third time in his career has helped keep the fire burning. “People say to me ‘you’re 35, why are you still playing?’, but, to be honest, I still enjoy it as much as I did when I was 15 or 16,” Tarpey told The NLP.
“Scoring goals is what I feel I can bring to any team and, at 35, to still be contributing with goals and assists as much as I did is a great feeling. Plus, it’s always nice to play in winning teams and get promotions – that helps too. “When I signed, I told Barts (Mark Bartley) I felt I could help him get over the line after losing in the play-offs last year – not just with what I do on the pitch but also with that bit of experience off it.
“Normally at 35 you’re a big-part player, but I’ve been playing regularly and scoring goals too. “There’s no catching my strike partner (Dawid Rogalski) who finished on 46, I think, but as a partnership, to get 70 goals between us in all competitions is pretty good going.” Tarpey helped the Blues get over the line with a 3-1 play-off final win over a Leatherhead side who he had left just five months previous He instantly felt at home at the Alfred Davis Memorial Ground and settled in quickly. “There’s no better feeling than to get the job done,” Tarpey added. “They’re a great group, very hungry and focused, with some really good young players there and I think they’ve got the potential to go a long way in the game. “Barts knows that they are good enough to play at Step 3 and he is willing to give them that chance.
“It’s going to be tough, though, as, in comparison to other clubs at that level, Marlow are a very small club, but I think, having come so close the last few years, we will hold our own and surprise a few along the way. “For me, personally, I can’t wait to give Step 3 another crack. I had a taste of Step 3 on loan at Hungerford last year and although I didn’t play as much as I wanted to, I felt I was still good enough to be playing at that level. “At 35, I want to be playing as high as I can and this is a great opportunity for me.
“As long as I still enjoy it and my body lets me play, then I will play on for as long as I possibly can.”