Experienced stopper determined to remain number one

Steve Phillips fully appreciates that he faces stiff competition for his place again next season with Alan Martin and young Ben Garratt challenging, but the veteran stopper is determined as ever to hold on to the number one spot.

The 35-year goalkeeper is closing in on making 600 first class appearances, spanning 16 seasons as a professional and although his interest in coaching has increased further with a summer UEFA B course, the former Bristol Rovers man is not prepared to surrender the number one jersey just yet.

Steve told the club’s official web-site: “My targets are still to play as many games as I can. I've got more competition with Ben (Garratt) now which is great.

“Hopefully, I will be injury free. I'll be doing my best to make sure the boss continues to pick me. Until someone tells me I'm not good enough, I'll always want to be number one, that's the way I've been since 1996.

“You have to have competition but I've been good at blocking it out over the course of my career. At Bristol City, I had Ben Foster turn up, Boaz Myhill turn up, Jonathan Gould, they didn't get in front of me.

“My mind set never changes, I will always give my best and so far it has been good enough. It doesn’t change the way I train or play.”