Brad Targett became the latest in a long list of Sholing players to celebrate milestone appearances for the Pitching In Southern League Premier South club when he made his 250th outing at the weekend.
It proved to be an extra special day for the versatile performer as he found the net with his 72nd goal for the club in a commanding 3-0 triumph over Chertsey Town.
“Reaching 250 appearances for the club is a huge milestone for me,” he told us. “I’m incredibly proud of it. It’s a testament to the hard work, dedication, and support I’ve received from my team-mates, coaching staff and the fans over the years.
“There have been so many highlights – memorable goals, big wins, and, of course, lifting trophies as well as a play-off win.
“We’ve got quite a few players here who have made a lot of appearances for the club, some with more than double the number I have, and we’ve built some incredible relationships over the years.
“When you’ve been around a club as long as some of us have, you really start to develop a sense of family. We know each other’s strengths, weaknesses, and how to push each other.
“That bond is crucial, especially when times get tough on the field. It makes the victories sweeter and the losses easier to deal with because we’ve got each other’s backs, both on and off the pitch.”
Saturday’s victory saw Sholing strengthen their position in the middle of the table as they look to move towards the top half during the final months of the season.
“The season has been a bit of a rollercoaster, to be honest,” he added. “We’ve had some great moments, and there have been times where we’ve let ourselves down. But that’s football – you don’t always get everything you hope for.
“Going into the season, we knew it would be a challenge, but we had high expectations. We’re still fighting for our goals, and there’s plenty of time to make things right. I’m confident we can achieve what we set out to do if we stay focused and keep working hard.
“I’m really looking forward to the run-in. This is the time of year when everything gets real – the pressure intensifies. We’ve got a strong group, and I know we’ve got what it takes to push on and finish strong. It’s going to be exciting, and I’m ready for the challenge ahead.
“Personally, I want to keep improving and contribute as much as I can to the team, whether it’s with goals, assists and clean sheets or just being there when the team needs me. For the team, our aim is simple – to finish as high as possible and secure the success we believe we can achieve.
“We’ve got our sights set on some big targets, and we’re not settling for anything less. The squad’s working hard, and we’ve got the mentality to push all the way through to the final whistle.”
Sholing play host to Walton & Hersham on Tuesday evening before heading to Winchester City at the weekend.
IMAGE: DB Photography
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