I HAVE been going to Bowers & Pitsea since my early thirties and have not looked back.

I had just moved near to Bowers’ ground and started my own business which meant I gave up my Spurs season ticket - I had been going there a good 10 years.

Like many my age, I fell out of love with that type of football. It is like a soap opera and you can’t relate to it.

I bought a house down the road, which needed a lot of work done to it and, as I was working, I could hear the cheers of the supporters.

My missus said that was a club up there, so I went to watch a game.

It was about this time of year and Bowers were playing Southend Manor in the Essex Senior League.

It didn’t start so well and after five minutes Bowers were 2-0 down and down to 10 men!

But they came back to win 5-4, and I soon came to discover that is just how Bowers are.

I worked Saturdays so I couldn’t go weekly until the 2006 season, and I got to know the players more. I remember they had a chubby ‘keeper called Robert Small!

I stayed on and had a beer with them and, while they are now mostly on the Lucozade, there was a bigger social element.

The club knew I had my own gardening business, so I was invited onto the committee and from there it has evolved.

Now I wake up on matchday, and things are easier than they were a few years ago. A few years back, light rain the night before meant trouble so I spent a lot of time making sure the pitch was playable. Thankfully that has now been resolved!

But, over the last five years or so, the club has grown. Last season we had one youth team and now there are about 20.

I encourage people to give it a go. You can spend £100million in the Premier League and not win the title. It seems pointless. I don’t even look at the league results until I come across them now.

Someone recently rung up and they said they wanted a Bowers shirt for their kid’s birthday. That is great and long may it continue.