Dave Winfield Speaks
Defender Dave Winfield speaks after recently completing 100 appearances for the club and praises a former colleague in his development
With the commotion at the end of the recent Coca-Cola League Two encounter at home to AFC Bournemouth few will have been aware that the injury time appearance of Dave Winfield was the 21-year-old's 100th appearance for the club. Indeed the towering centre half made his debut for the club nearly five years ago in a Conference Challenge Cup tie at Forest Green Rovers.
Now the longest serving player at the club Dave is also the first youth product of Aldershot Town to reach the milestone. He told The Shots Online, "I was aware that my 100th appearance was coming up and my concentration was to get back into the team. I am very proud to have reached 100 matches for Aldershot Town but I just want to kick on now."
Dave made 24 league appearances in the Conference championship season but suffered injury in the Setanta Shield Final versus Rushden and Diamonds which halted a continuation as promotion to the Football League was made. After he recovered he went out on a loan spell at Salisbury City before eventually making his Football League bow this time last year at Exeter City. Three days later he scored his first goal in the competition in that epic 4-4 draw at Gillingham.
This season was ticking along nicely for the Aldershot-born defender and he was establishing himself as an important part of the starting line-up before his sending off at Shrewsbury Town in October ended a starting sequence of 12 matches. It was prove to be a costly lapse of discipline for Dave due to the change of management in that period with the departure of Gary Waddock.
He added, "Firstly we had Jason Dodds in charge before the permanent arrival of Kevin Dillon. The boys then managed a fine run of results which was great. Training has been slightly different since Kevin's arrival but it is enjoyable. It is all learning and then picking up the points on match day though.
"For me I know that it is a patience game and I don't want to stop at 100 matches. There are always going to be stages in the season when you don't play. Of course it is frustrating because everybody wants to be playing and I am not on my own but I know in my own mindset that I must keep working hard and be ready when my chance does come.
"It is all about consistency in the Football League. That is my concentration. The club has progressed well over the years and the standard has risen during those years."
There is one former colleague that Dave holds in high regard as a main influence in the progress of his career as he explains further, " It has been great to be involved with the club in what has been a special period in its history. When I reflect on things so far I look up to people like Nikki Bull. He played a big part in my career helping me to be the player that I am today.
"He was always encouraging me and provided an inspiration that is important as you develop. When you look at the amount of matches that he played for the club and the enthusiasm that he showed it was something that was important and that has been a great help too as you build your character.
"My initial goal was always to get into the first team and then maintain the standard and provide the consistency that is required."
