Pic: Tony Fowles
NOT every striker would describe a season which saw him score 44 goals in 48 games as a little on the disappointing side – but then East Thurrock United's Sam Higgins is hardly your everyday striker.
The forward – labelled as a “homing pigeon” by manager John Coventry because he always finds his way back when he leaves – is “making up” for a season when he didn't complete the scoring job he really wanted to.
Higgins is desperate to get the stats on his side – he has designs on scoring more than a goal every game.
Confidence
Ambitious at Step 3, but here's a man who knows his facts and figures. This season has seen him score 30 times in 27 matches in all competitions, he confirmed.
Higgins only needs to net three more times to reach the 200-goal landmark for the club. His 15th hat-trick for the unfashionable Ryman Premier club last Tuesday night saw the Essex side hammer Harrow Borough 5-2.
It was their tenth win in their last 12 league games and the club, who were undefeated since the middle of November, were joint top before Saturday's defeat to Merstham.
And Higgins said: “Last year it was a shame, I didn't quite get as many as I wanted to but this season, although I have missed 12 games after a hamstring injury, has been a lot closer to where I want it to be.
“I have always wanted to beat the goal-a-game ratio, so I've just got to keep them coming! We're having a fantastic season too which helps. The confidence is just flowing through the team and we're up there on merit.”
Twice he's left, and twice he's returned to Coventry – a manager who he has an obvious father-son like relationship with.
Responsibility
“I went to Chelmsford and returned, then gave it a go at Bromley a few years later,” he added. “I just didn't enjoy it as much as I did at East Thurrock, it's as simple as that. I want to play and I want to score goals. Hopefully I can carry on and make it to 200 as soon as possible.”
Rocks boss Coventry said: “I made Sam captain in the summer. It gave him a little bit more responsibility and it's helped his game. He isn't the loudest captain you'll find but he wears his heart on his sleeve.
“We're in a good place at the moment but we're not looking too closely at it. You've just got to enjoy the good times when they're here.”
