BLUEBIRDS veteran Iain Harvey was relieved to finally celebrate a landmark moment in his Chippenham Town career this week.

The 37-year-old is playing in his ninth season at Hardenhuish Park and after entering the fray as a second half substitute in Monday night’s 1-1 draw at Hitchin Town, Harvey was able to clinch his 300th appearance for the club.

The combative midfielder was signed by then-Bluebirds boss Darren Perrin from Tiverton Town back in November 2005 and says that he was well aware that he didn’t have long to make it 300 not out at the beginning of the campaign.

“I spoke to Roger (Lewis), who does things for the programme and all that, and he said to me at the start of the season that I had 12 games to go,” said Harvey.

“I was on 288 and I played in the first few games and thought I was going to get there quickly but then I got suspended and hurt my knee ligaments too, which didn’t help.

“Back when I was younger, I was making 50-odd appearances a year but I also had one season where I had a broken foot and only played about eight games.

“I thought it was going to fall on the Chesham game at home (on November 22), which would have been brilliant, but that didn’t happen.

Only a brief loan spell at Paulton Rovers has ever taken Harvey away from Chippenham since he first joined the club and the former Bath City man has remained a popular figure in the dressing room.

Asked why he’d never been tempted elsewhere, he joked: “Maybe because nobody’s ever come in for me?

“I’ve had some great times here. We had a lot of success in the first five or six years I was here, playing in front of 700 or 800 all the time, or 1,000 when we were playing someone like Bath.

“I love the craic and the banter in the dressing room and I’ve made some lifelong friends, playing under the likes of Mingo (Adie Mings) and other people.

“We might not have had as much success in the last few years but I think in Mark (Collier) and that, we’ve got good people at the helm.

“If I didn’t think I could still contribute to the team, I wouldn’t be here.”

Town boss Mark Collier said: “He is a key man and it is full credit to him to play 300 games. Not only is he a great player to have on the pitch but also in the dressing room. He is a fantastic character to have around.”

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