Having recently broken through the 100-appearance mark for local club, Bideford, popular goalkeeper, Adam Seedhouse Evans, is hoping that he will be able to make more memories between now and the end of the season.
The Pitching In Southern League Division One South club have seen their form dip recently with Saturday’s 2-0 home reverse at the hands of Evesham United their fourth reverse in a row, but they remain very much in touch with the play-off places and with a number of games in hand on most of the teams around them.
Seedhouse Evans is proud to be part of it.
“To have made over 100 appearances for the club is very special,” he told us. “The club have been immense from the moment I joined and have made me and my family welcome.
“It’s an honour to represent the club and walk out at The Sports Ground every other Saturday.
“I have been pretty pleased with my form this season; it’s been fairly consistent, I go into every match feeling confident and that I am not going to conceded, which is testament to the ten players in front of me who have done well this season.
“To a man, every player has bought into the Gaffer’s plan this season and there’s a real work-ethic, which has been reflected in the fact that we’re challenging at the right end of the table this season and have done so for most of the campaign.
“I know that results since the turn of the year have not exactly gone our way, but after last season’s struggles, had you said that we would be in this position this time around with 13 or 14 games to go, we would not have believed you.
“I think the dip in form has a lot to do with the lack of game time we’ve had; we’re five games behind some clubs. We were on an eight-game unbeaten run and then we lost our rhythm and momentum because of all the postponements.
“I am confident that we can dig deep and get ourselves on another run between now and the end of the season.
“As I say, the turnaround from last season has been immense and unexpected. Our biggest struggle last time around was not knowing what our best formation was and constantly having to change it around.
“This season it’s been the polar opposite where we have a settled squad and way of playing. The togetherness is there and we have healthy competition for places throughout the team.
“Everyone supports each other and wants the best for the team above themselves. We’ve been able to pick up some incredible results along the way; beating Wimborne Town plus Bristol Manor Farm and Paulton Rovers with just ten men.
“That shows the strength of character we have here, but it’s a weird League this season. Anyone can beat each other and if you were a betting man or woman, you would lose a lot of money.
“There is plenty of competitiveness throughout the League; to win is tough and I am just as surprised to see some of the teams who are struggling near the bottom as I am to see some of the names near the top.
“It’s a big flip on last season but it is great to see. There's a big run-in now at both ends of the table and so much to play for in terms of promotion and relegation. Every remaining game is going to be a real dog-fight and I can't wait for it and see how it pans out for every club involved.
“As a club, our target for the rest of the season is to be focussed on making those play-offs because if you can get in them, anything can happen.
“We’re still in a good position despite Saturday’s set-back at home to Evesham United. If we can show the right attitude and keep working at things it will show that we are worthy of being up there with some of the biggest clubs at this level.”
We ended the interview by asking Seedhouse Evans to pick put some of his most memorable moments from his century of games for the Robins.
“There are a few memories and saves that stand out,” he added. “I saved four penalties to help us beat Exeter City to lift the County Cup, also the game at Willand Rovers where we beat them 2-1 to guarantee our safety in 2021/22.
“In terms of specific saves, there have been a few. I had a great debut for the club against Paulton Rovers; I kept a clean sheet in a 2-0 win and probably set the standard a bit too high too early on with some quality saves that day.
“There were also some saves I was particularly pleased with in our draw with AFC Totton last season.
“My top two saves, though, would be the save I made against Bashley last season in a 1-0 win when we had that incredible run. Full stretch to my left hand side from a bullet header to claw it out and maintain the clean sheet and help the boys get the win over the line.
“The other would be the one against Helston this season in the FA Cup. I'd just come back from injury and had a shaky first 45 minutes getting back into the rhythm of match days and then at 1-0, right on the stroke of half-time, I made the save of my career so far. Another header, point blank range, this time to my right and I was able to parry it up onto the bar with it bouncing twice, before Ben Gerring cleared our lines.
“We went on to win that match 4-0 so it was a crucial save as well as an incredible one, if I do say so myself!”
Bideford are back in home soil on Saturday as they lock horns with title-chasing Frome Town.
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