Sheppey United manager and former Oxford United and AFC Wimbledon striker Jack Midson keen to continue playing for the Ites when the need arises despite approaching 40th birthday

Sheppey manager Jack Midson isn’t ready to hang his boots up yet.

Midson will turn 40 in September and continued playing for The Ites last season during his first as manager. It looks like he’ll keep on playing next season too.

“The aim is to play on,” said the former Oxford United and AFC Wimbledon front-man. “I feel alright at the moment – I will see how it goes pre-season.

“I am not ready to hang them up yet!”

Midson played when needed, particularly when leading scorer Warren Mfula was out injured. He ended up playing 27 games and bagged a few goals too as his side made a late charge for the Isthmian South East play-off places.

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He said: “The idea last season was for me and Jono (Richardson, the assistant manager) to dot in and out, when the players were out injured.

“If someone was missing for a couple of weeks we weren’t in the position to go and sign five or six new players like some other clubs, I came in for a spell and it was a longer spell than I anticipated, but i did it. We will see how it pans out.

“It is good to be around the squad. I enjoy the training, and if I am needed for a week or so then I will come back in.”

Midson has continued his work on building for next season, with the focus on clinching the signatures of the current squad first.

Utility player Conor Wilkins will be back for the 2023/24 campaign.

He returned to the club midway through the season after a spell with Faversham Town.

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Midson said: “He’s a great character in the changing room and off the field – this is an important part of having a good squad.

“Connor never let anyone down when he took the captain’s armband and I’m sure he’ll relish that opportunity again should it come his way. Every good team needs a player like Connor Wilkins.”

Central defender Lekan Majoyegbe, 21, was also a key man – an ever present in the side – and he’s committed for another year too.

He’s keen on building on what they produced in the second half of the 2022/23 season, saying: “We owe it to them to finish even higher this season and push for promotion.

“We finished last season well, hopefully we can carry the good form forward.”

Midson was delighted to have him for the season ahead, adding: “To play every minute of the season at this level is quite an achievement and it shows what an athlete he is, as well as showing the professionalism needed to be one of the best out there.”

Sheppey have announced their pre-season schedule which includes home games against a Gillingham XI (Friday, July 21 – 7.45pm) and Maidstone United (Saturday, July 8 – 3pm).

The Ites start with an inter-club match against the under-23s on Saturday, July 1 at 3pm. Other matches are against Bowers & Pitsea (Tuesday, July 11), Canterbury City (Saturday, July 15), Lordswood (Tuesday, July 18) and Snodland Town (Tuesday, July 25).