Selston vice-captain Sean Gregory aiming to reward the club's hardworking volunteers

The Villagers face another tough season at step five level as they continue to punch far above their weight in the Premier Division of the Midland Football League.

And Gregory, who has been with the club since the first-team reformed back in 2006, is vowing the players will be giving 100 per cent for those behind the scenes who have helped make their rise possible.

“I was thinking about packing it in,” he admitted. “It is taking up most of a Saturday now. When you are away you’re not just playing at the other side of Nottingham, you're going to places like Tamworth now.

Selston boss Carl Moore discusses pre-season and the campaign ahead

“But I see the volunteers down there most days working hard and all I have to do is turn up on a Saturday, so it would be a bit selfish of me not to turn up and give it my all.

“As players we are doing it for the chairman and the volunteers, especially the ones that have been there a while.”

Vice-captain Gregory has won the MRA Division Two title, two Central Midlands League South Division titles and the EMCFL Premier Division with Selston.

But the central midfielder, who has played over 300 times for the club, admits that beating the drop next season would be a far bigger achievement than lifting any of those trophies.

“If we avoid relegation this year it will be just as good an achievement as when we won the league previously, probably even better,” he said.

“People say things don’t come down to money, but at the end of the day money talks.

“We have gone from being below step seven up to step five now. We’ve gone from playing park football to playing the likes of Coventry on a massive pitch or Worcester City in a 5,000 capacity stadium.

“We were in the FA Cup last year and have come a long way. We are a village team and to be in the FA Cup was an amazing achievement.

“A club like us realistically can’t go above this level. We probably should be at step six and we are punching above our weight.

“You get to a point where you do need money to carry things on.

“We are going to be underdogs every game, but I’d rather play at this standard and have a battle every game than just get used to it.”

But Gregory, who has also had short spells at Pinxton, Teversal and Heanor, is under no illusion as to the scale of task his side faces and knows a good pre-season is key.

“A lot of players got used to winning and it has been a shock to the system,” he added. “Last year we knew it was going to be difficult and we struggled , we have never been in that position before as we are used to winning.

“Come the last 15-20 mins we were getting found out. We have got a good pre-season ahead of us and more fitness will certainly help.

“This is the biggest step up we have ever made. Step six to five is the biggest difference, it’s more physical and there are stronger teams, you don’t really get many kids playing at this level.

“You are playing against ex pros where we pay no money out and our hands are tied. We have got to enjoy our football and have a laugh together.

“When you’re not paying players it’s important you can just enjoy it and have a laugh.”

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