He may be in his testimonial season at Royston Town, but when Adam Murray talks about the campaign ahead, he does so with a twinkle in his eye and the level of excitement and anticipation that you would expect from a youngster just making his way in the game.
But Murray’s passion for football is renowned around Garden Walk where the skipper is a popular figure both on and off the pitch.
“I’m incredibly proud to have spent the past decade at this wonderful football club,” Murray told us. “It’s been a massive part of my life and career; to represent Royston Town for so long is a real honour.
“I’ve grown a lot here, not just as a player, but as a person too. I feel privileged to have been part of the club’s journey and there’s so much for us to look forward to.
“There have been plenty of highlights from over the years; Cup runs, big wins and great dressing room moments. The first year I joined we achieved promotion, that was a special season alongside some outstanding team-mates and it set the tone for what was to follow.
“I certainly didn’t expect to be here as long, though. I can clearly remember my debut, it was against Kidlington and I was both nervous and excited in the build-up. The game itself was nothing to write home about; we drew 1-1, but I was named Man of the Match and was buzzing afterwards!”
As part of his testimonial year, Murray recently took part in a Q&A session.
“It was an unforgettable day,” he added. “I was blown away by the support, from team-mates past and present, staff, fans, and the wider community. It was emotional, to be honest, a real reminder of how much this club means to people and how lucky I am to be a part of it.
“This is a such special place and I’m massively looking forward to the new season getting underway so we can take on the challenge that the Pitching In Southern League Premier Central will present to us once more.
“There’s a real sense of purpose and hunger in the group. Pre-season is going well and we’re all focused on building something good this year. I can’t wait to get going and see what we can achieve.
“Personally, I want to stay consistent, lead by example - and not get loads of yellow cards! - and help the younger lads coming through. For the team, it’s about pushing as high up the table as possible, playing good football and giving the fans something to shout about every week.
“We want to be in and around the promotion conversation, and I believe we’ve got the squad to do that.
“The Premier Central is always a competitive League, with tough games week in, week out. There’s quality across the board and no easy fixtures, so we know we’ll need to be at our best consistently.
“But that challenge is what makes it exciting and we’re ready for it!”
IMAGE: Royston Town FC
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