MY mate reckons he's still got it somewhere, tucked away in a wardrobe. "Got it! A Bas Savage moonwalk t-shirt," he exclaims.
This is not the novelty item it might seem. Back in 2007 these were all the rage on the Sussex coast when the 6ft 3in striker was banging in the goals in at Brighton, becoming an Albion cult hero in the process.
The man with the blue hair (or red, or Spider-Man design depending on the occasion) was one of the most colourful in the game in recent years, his career taking in Reading, Bristol City, Gillingham, Brighton, Millwall, Tranmere, Dagenham, Northampton and Thai side TOT, as well as loans at Wycombe and Bury, before hanging up his boots in 2017.
But it all began in rather more low-key surroundings, when Savage was an up-andcoming player in Non-League.
"I used to love the old Stompond Lane ground! I remember going past defenders like we were just playing in the park in those days," he recalls of his first club Walton & Hersham, now playing in the Southern Premier Division South at their new Elmbridge stadium.
"Six or seven of us went together to Walton to try and get in the team. We did have aspirations of making it in the pro game but really we didn't know what would happen.
Denne historien er fra June 23, 2024-utgaven av The Non-League Football Paper.
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Denne historien er fra June 23, 2024-utgaven av The Non-League Football Paper.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
I'M READY FOR A NEW PROJECT
LEAGUE One, League Two, National League John Coleman doesn't care. He just wants to manage a club with scope for 'doing an Accrington'.
BEARNE'S DOUBLE IS A PITMEN TRIUMPH
HEDNESFORD Town marched on as this tie was settled in the first 21 minutes with a glut of goals in favour of the Pitmen.
STAG-DO SPOILED BY LIAM DOUBLE
AFC Totton and Basingstoke played out an entertaining draw at The Snows Stadium.
FOALLE'S THERE AT DEATH TO STEA IT!
A GOAL with almost the last kick of the game from Jack Foalle saw Ashton's unbeaten start to the season go up in smoke at Hurst Cross after they had hit the post in each half.
TUDORS STAY TOP THANKS TO AJAYI!
HEMEL HEMPSTEAD TOWN secured a crucial victory over Slough Town that solidifies their position at the top of National League South.
MOLS ON ROLL AS NASH GO SECOND!
CURZON ASHTON moved up to second place after doing a job on former boss Adam Lakeland and his King's Lynn Town side at the Walks.
REAL DEAL HEED KEEP PILING ON THE POINTS
GATESHEAD scored early in each half to strengthen their position at the top of the table after they stretched their unbeaten start to the season to seven games.
JOSH JOY DELIGHTS DAGGERS BOSS BEN
JOSH UMERAH marked his first league start for Dagenham & Redbridge by grabbing the goal that ensured a share of the spoils at Maidenhead.
DOGGED DALE WILL NOT BE MOVED!
ROCHDALE cruised to victory with a superb first-half performance which settled the age-old debate as Dale's immovable defensive object blunted Aldershot's previously irresistible attacking force.
SPITFIRES BACK IN THE GROOVE
EASTLEIGH bounced back from their last-gasp defeat at Gateshead last weekend as they edged past lowly Tamworth in a lackluster affair at the Silverlake.
