IT'S probably a good job Gosport Borough have improved their ground as they've climbed up the Non-League ladder – all-time record goalscorer Justin Bennett might be a few pounds heavier!
Back in the Hampshire club's Southern League South & West days, striker Bennett wasn't just feeding his goal hunger.
Whenever he scored a goal, his celebration would involve running over to a group of fans for a mid-game Bourbon.
“That's going back to the South & West days,” Bennett laughs. “Before we had our new stand there was an old tin hut where a few avid fans used to stand to watch the games.
“They always used to have biscuits so I told them that one day when I scored, I'd go over and have a biscuit with them. It was a celebration but then it became a thing where when I scored I'd go over and they'd give me a Bourbon.
“They always made sure they had a stock of Bourbons for me. But that stand has been demolished and been replaced by a nice new one. I don't know where they watch from now.”
Thankfully for Borough boss Alex Pike, his leading marksman has stopped taking the biscuit. Since joining the club in 2007, initially on loan from Eastleigh, he's scored 245 goals.
Already this season he's scored 11 in the league, including four against Weston-super-Mare, and he got another four-goal haul in the 7-0 FA Cup win over Bideford last Saturday.
But the move may have never happened if a mate hadn't persuaded him to meet colourful boss Pike.
“I only knew him from playing against him – I'd only ever thought of him as an idiot on the side of the pitch – he's quite loud mouthed!” says the 33-year-old. “But when I sat down and spoke to him he was alright.
Bonus
“The only reason I went to meet him was because someone I knew from Salisbury, where I live, was involved with the club and he said, ‘Speak to him and see what you think'.
“Now the only reason I've been here for so long is because of Alex. There's maybe been the odd time where I've thought about leaving but he's talked me round, mostly by promising what he'd do for the club and he's delivered on that.
“I had a bad knee injury at Eastleigh and I'd missed the whole year so I just wanted to play football. I didn't ever expect to stay at Gosport as long as I have and I certainly didn't expect us to be where we are now. I wouldn't change it for anything.”
Bennett arrived at Privett Park in their first season at Step 4 following promotion from the Wessex League. For three seasons the club finished mid-table before finally cracking it.
In 2012 they won promotion through the play-offs and immediately followed it up with a second successive promotion to the Conference South.
In 2013-14 their remarkable story continued, when they reached Wembley and the FA Trophy final against Cambridge United. Despite losing 4-0 to the U's, who went onto win promotion to the Football League later that season, the income helped with more ground improvements.
The one constant has been Bennett's goals, albeit with a brief spell out on loan at Poole Town before Wembley. Last season he topped the Conference South scoring charts with 34 goals.
“That's what was nice about last season and winning the Golden Boot,” says Bennett, who moved to the Spitfires on the back of a 63-goal season for Wessex League Andover.
“Since leaving Eastleigh it was always in my head whether or not I could do it at this level. There's a lot of good strikers in the league so it was good to out-do them all.”
Along with Bennett, keeper Nathan Ashmore, defender Brett Poate, midfielder Adam Wilde and fellow forward Dan Wooden have been at the club since the South & West.
“Going back a few years no one would believe Gosport would be where we are now, let alone pushing to get into the Conference Premier where a lot of clubs are full-time,” says Bennett.
“We're just a good bunch of lads, all from around Portsmouth and Southampton. We go out there to try and win every game and see where it takes us.
“We don't take anything too seriously. First and foremost we enjoy it and then anything that comes after is a bonus. I think that's a good attitude to have.
“We come across clubs at this level now who you can see take everything really seriously. It's not a bad thing but I just don't think that would work for us.
“The way we do it does so why change it? We are serious on the pitch and work hard but it's the little things. Before a game we're always playing stupid games. We might set-up a bin and the end of the changing room and try to kick a ball in it. If you do, you get £5 off your fine list.
“Away games, win or lose, we tend to have a few beers on the coach on the way back. Sometimes things get out of hand but we enjoy ourselves and that shows through on the pitch.”
