MALVERN Town’s captain fantastic Reece King says it was an honour to the lead the squad week in, week out following their highest ever West Midlands (Regional) League finish in 12 years.
The 20-year-old midfielder from Malvern Link was an integral part of Les Jones’ side which finished third in the Premier Division table – their highest WMRL position since they won the league in 2004.
Following a poor start to the campaign which saw Malvern win just four of their opening 15 games, they regrouped fantastically as they went on to win 21 of their remaining 27 games – winning their last ten in a row.
Despite Malvern missing out on silverware in their final game of the season with a 1-0 defeat to Littleton in the final of the Worcester Royal Infirmary Cup, King told the Observer this season has been one to savour.
“It’s been a great season, especially with a team full of local lads,” he said.
“Despite the dodgy start, we’ve bounced back and finished the season strongly and topped the form tables.
“It’s a great honour for me to be a part of and captain my local club.
“I’ve been here for a long time and the lads show me a lot of respect, but we are all friends.”
With Malvern qualifying for the FA Cup and managing director Chris Pinder wanting promotion by 2018, there is a lot of pressure on the Hillsiders for the 2016/17 campaign but King is confident the squad has what it takes to progress.
“There’s going to be high expectations of us next season but that’s a good thing because, if we didn’t have that pressure, we’d be more laid back,” he said.
“We definitely have what it takes to get promotion but we need to keep the squad we have here over the summer and make a few changes.
“Next season, I’d love us to go on a great FA Cup run and it would be brilliant to get promotion with that, but we are aware it’s going to be a big ask.”