STAG PARTY IS JUST PERFECT TO REVITALISE GREAT SCOTT

THIS time last year, Scott Rendell was wavering.

- CHRIS DUNLAVY

Released by Havant & Waterlooville, the now 36-year-old striker had just been invited to join AFC Totton of Southern League Division One South.

Like everyone else, Rendell knew the ambitious Stags were going places. But was a player only just out of full-time football, his CV burnished by over 100 EFL appearances, really ready to drop into Step 4?

“Driving down here last summer, I really didn’t know,” admits the former Peterborough, Wycombe and Luton striker, who has scored over 200 goals in a career spanning 20 years.

“And I was honest about it. When I sat down with (manager) Jimmy Ball, below, and the chief exec, Steve Brookwell, I told them that I wasn’t sure about dropping two levels. I was only 35 and it was a big risk.

“But they totally talked me round. By the time I got home I’d already decided to sign up and it’s one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. I’ve loved every second.”

And who wouldn’t? Even without Rendell, Totton were formidable. With him they were unstoppable.

The Stags won the title at a canter, bagged another two trophies and hit opponents for six (twice), seven and eight. There was even a 9-2 victory over Wincanton in the early rounds of the FA Cup.

“Within three weeks of being here, I said to Jimmy ‘We’ve got something here’,” says Rendell. “I just had such a good feeling.

“Still, nobody could have expected the way the season panned out. We played a decent style of football, scored loads of goals. We only lost four league games.

Fear factor

“You could see the mentality grow by the week and we almost had that fear factor, where everybody was talking about us.