Scot McGleish, a veteran of more than 1,000 first team matches, is heading to the MetCoaches Stadium in South Wales.
The former Leyton Orient, Northampton and Colchester goals ace is now, at the age of 45, is Hendon’s player-coach and could face the Martyrs in an EvoStik Southern League match at the MetCoaches on Saturday (3pm).
McGleish has a scoring average of a goal every three games over his career, although this season he has only been playing occasionally.
He did call a halt to his playing days a five seasons ago when he was playing for Wealdstone in a 3-0 win against Hampton & Richmond.
“Nothing at all went right,” said McGleish. “I had a bad game, missed a couple of easy chances and just didn’t feel happy with my performance.
“I walked into the dressing room, picked my boots up and put them on the peg. The boys went ‘What are you doing?’
“I said ’That is officially what you call hanging your boots up. That’s me, I’m done.’
“Manager Gordon Bartlett said ‘Don’t be silly. You enjoy it too much. We can see it on your face.’
“I was talked out of it, That particular day, that week, I had a massive moment. But from that lightbulb moment, thinking I had to give it up, I was totally reinvigorated.”
Now he is 45-years-old and battling on as player-coach.
Former Orient, Charlton, Northampton and Wycombe player McGleish combines his part-time playing commitments with working four days a week for the PFA, but says: “I just love playing football.
Home Fixture : This coming Saturday 16th February we welcome @HendonFC to the @metcoaches Community Stadium kick off 3pm… Where we will support @FvHtweets & @FvHCymru February’s month of action. See you all there ⚫️⚪️🌈🌈 pic.twitter.com/91x14zURcz
— The Martyrs (@MerthyrTownFC) February 14, 2019
“It’s just pure enjoyment for me. I started in non-league, playing for fun. I’ve managed to have an 20-plus year career as a professional, totally loved every second of it, and I’ve gone back to where I started, working and playing for fun.”
The Martyrs are seventh after their 2-1 win against Weymouth in midweek, three points behind fifth-placed Poole Town with two games in hand.
Ben Swallow’s superb pin-point pass which led to the second goal delighted fans as the ball found his team-mate Owain Jones, who had drifted away from opponents and lashed his shot home after 70 minutes.
Barry-born Swallow, on loan from Weston-super-Mare, showed speed and good delivery throughout as Merthyr deservedly made it 13 wins this season in front of 327 spectators.
Ian Traylor and substitute Jones scored Merthyr’s goals and Weymouth suffered only their fifth defeat of the season.
Merthyr Town (v Hendon), from: Lewis Webb, Connor Young, Jarrad Wright, Matthew Harris, Adam Davies, Jamie Veale, Ashley Evans, Lee Lucas, Ben Swallow, Ryan Prosser, Ian Traylor, Tom Meechan, Craig Reddy, Owain Jones, Kieron Lewis.
Merthyr Town have 14 League fixtures left, seven of those at home.
Updated: Remaining Merthyr Town FC fixtures
February
Saturday 16 v Hendon H
Saturday 23 v Weymouth A
March
Saturday 2 v Kings Langley A
Saturday 9 v Harrow Borough H
Tuesday 12 v Dorchester Town H
Saturday 16 v Poole Town A
Tuesday 19 v Beaconsfield Town A
Saturday 23 v Staines Town H
Saturday 30 v Metropolitan Police A
April
Saturday 6 Hartley Wintney H
Saturday 13 v Gosport Borough A
Saturday 20 v Farnborough H
Monday 22 v Taunton Town A
Saturday 27 v Walton Casuals H
LEAGUE TABLE: EVO-STIK LEAGUE SOUTH PREMIER DIVISION SOUTH – 2018-19
| Club | P | W | D | L | Pts | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Taunton Town | 29 | 18 | 5 | 6 | 59 | |||||
| Salisbury | 28 | 16 | 7 | 5 | 55 | |||||
| Weymouth | 28 | 15 | 8 | 5 | 53 | |||||
| Metropolitan Police | 27 | 15 | 8 | 4 | 53 | |||||
| Poole Town | 30 | 13 | 9 | 8 | 48 | |||||
| Harrow Borough | 29 | 13 | 6 | 10 | 45 | |||||
| Merthyr Town | 28 | 13 | 6 | 9 | 45 | |||||
| Kings Langley | 27 | 13 | 5 | 9 | 44 | |||||
| Farnborough | 28 | 12 | 5 | 11 | 41 | |||||
| Swindon Supermarine | 29 | 11 | 7 | 11 | 40 | |||||
| Beaconsfield Town | 28 | 10 | 10 | 8 | 40 | |||||
| Wimborne Town | 29 | 11 | 5 | 13 | 38 | |||||
| Basingstoke Town | 29 | 10 | 5 | 14 | 35 | |||||
| Hendon | 29 | 9 | 8 | 12 | 35 | |||||
| Dorchester Town | 29 | 9 | 7 | 13 | 34 | |||||
| Tiverton Town | 28 | 8 | 9 | 11 | 33 | |||||
| Hartley Wintney | 27 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 33 | |||||
| Walton Casuals | 28 | 9 | 6 | 13 | 33 | |||||
| Gosport Borough | 29 | 10 | 2 | 17 | 32 | |||||
| Chesham United | 27 | 8 | 8 | 11 | 32 | |||||
| Frome Town | 29 | 9 | 3 | 17 | 30 | |||||
| Staines Town | 29 | 3 | – | 26 | 9 | |||||
