DEADLY Bowers & Pitsea forward David Knight picked up the SK Kits Golden Boot as he scooped a prize for his 42-goal season.
The striker was celebrated at The National Game Awards and described his prize as the perfect way to top off his season, with his goals integral as he pushed Bowers & Pitsea to promotion from Bostik League North.
“I was surprised, to be honest, because I thought I had not scored enough, I thought it was too low,” Knight said.
“The league was our priority and the golden boot is just icing on the cake for me.
“I have a habit of being in the right place at the right time. Obviously, the boys at the club give me great service and create chances for me. It's a mixture of both those things.
“I feel I've been more determined this season and the boys in the team did a great job creating the chances I needed each week.
“I just put myself in the right positions to score the goals. It motivates you as a player to be in those positions when you know you're going to get good chances. It gives you that little bit extra.”
Knight, formerly of Hornchurch and Canvey Island, is expecting it to get tougher as the Essex club prepare to move into upper echelons, although he is aiming high again and is hoping to match his 42-goal haul from 2018/19.
The striker praised the improving standards in Non-League football and also cited top-level stars such as Leicester City's Jamie Vardy as an example of the talent which can be found playing in the lower reaches of the English football pyramid.
“Next season I will try to get the same amount but it will be harder as we go up a division,” he added.
“I set a target each season when it starts and see how I go from there. If I reach that target in the season then I set a new one and go again.
“I set it at 30 for the start of the season but I had reached it just after Christmas.
“I set myself a new target of 35 but then said to myself when I reached that to keep going and see how high I could go by the end of the season – 42 is pretty good, I think!
“Non-league football has a lot of very good players. I don't think we get recognised for the ability we have and we show.
“You see players like Jamie Vardy who have made the jump from Non-league to the Premier League or Championship.
“These players deserve the chance to show they can do it.
“They deserve a chance to have days like today to come together and be recognised for their achievements.”
