The knack of scoring goals never leaves you. Just ask AFC Totton where veteran front-man, Scott Rendell, has been a regular on the scoresheet since he joined the club in the summer of 2022.
His goals helped them gain promotion at the end of last season and have continued in the Pitching In Southern League Premier South where they sit sixth following seven wins from their opening 12 League games.
Their last two games have ended in a 7-1 victory over Didcot Town on Wednesday, which followed a 5-1 away triumph at Bracknell Town last weekend. Rendell scored five of the goals as he followed up his hat-trick on Saturday with two more in midweek.
Not only that, he reached the landmark of 250 senior career goals, which began back in 2005 with his first strike for Forest Green Rovers in a 1-0 victory over Cambridge United.
“The buzz that you get when you score a goal never goes away,” Rendell told us. “Even at the age of 37; if anything it’s even more special!
“I am really enjoying my football and have done so ever since I first walked through the door at AFC Totton.
“Every day we’re trying to make things as professional as they can be at the club, not just on the pitch, but the whole infrastructure.
“It’s a process that takes time, you can’t take too big a step too soon, we’re building things bit by bit and making great progress.
“The season has started well both for myself personally and the team as a whole, particularly as we have made the step up in level and the new signings are still gelling into the group.
“We’ve already showed that when we’re on it, we can be more than a match for anyone at this level. We’re in a good position to be able to push on and there is plenty more still to come from us.
“There will be ups and downs along the way, we know that as we come up against stronger opponents, but this is an exciting journey and I’m loving every minute of it.
“I’m not one to set individual targets in terms of goals. The important thing for me is to be part of a team that is doing well because if that is the case then, as a striker, I know that I’m doing my job.
“This is a team game and there is no reason why this team can’t be pushing for a second successive promotion come the end of the season.”
The Stags take a break from League business on Saturday to host Merthyr Town in the first round proper of the Isuzu FA Trophy.
“Merthyr are a very good team,” added Rendell. “They have started the season well but this is the FA Trophy and anything can happen.
“It’s a competition that we want to go as far in as we can. We’re taking nothing for granted but we have belief in our ability to progress and have a good run.”
Rendell knows a thing or two about Cup runs. He scored the winner for Luton Town when, as a Conference Premier club, they knocked Premier League Norwich City out of the FA Cup at the fourth round stage in 2012/13.
He has also given service to the likes of Cambridge United, Peterborough United, Wycombe Wanderers, Aldershot Town, Woking, Eastleigh, Maidstone United and Havant & Waterlooville, from where he joined AFC Totton to continue his successful and long career in the game.
IMAGE: Craig Hobbs Photography
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