Sam has the desire to make the grade

I sympathise with our on-loan left back Sam Jones, who is awaiting a decision on his Youth Training Scheme from Bristol Rovers.

It is a difficult and tricky time for him as he is in limbo and waiting to see if he gets offered a contract.

Bristol Rovers' decision will make or break his career and I can appreciate the position he is in.

I think he has a future in the game and has done extremely well in the matches he has featured for us.

The problem with league clubs is they want a fully developed player yesterday and have not got the time to allow a player to fully develop.

I think players can still come into the game in their early to mid twenties, take Ian Wright for example who did not start playing professional football until he was 23.

If a player has the desire and ability then they can make the grade. Sam has lots of desire and is maturing into a good player.

When I was first getting into football I did not have to go through a difficult time like Sam did as I was not offered an apprenticeship.

I was playing for the Bristol Rovers youth sides as a youngster and also for Mangotsfield in the Western League.

Rovers offered me a professional contract when I was 18 and it was one of the best times of my life and I was in a state of pure jubilation.

When your teachers at school ask want you want to do for a living they usually don't accept it when you tell them you want to play football for a living.

I was offered my contract at the same time I was playing for England Schoolboys. That was one of the best highlights of my early playing career. To represent your country is an amazing achievement and I know how Chippenham lad Yan Klukowski must be feeling right now.

Like Yan did, I had to go through a number of trials starting with the South West round. The structure of the England Schoolboys has not changed much and they still have a South West versus South East round and then finally a South against North game.

I remember waiting for my letter to tell me if I had got through to the final squad.

It was amazing when I opened it and found out I would be representing my country.

I played twice against Scotland and once against Wales. I did not manage to get on the score sheet but they were great occasions in my life and a huge honour.

The spirit at the club is on a high after Saturday's game against Merthyr. We expected to get about 700 to the game, we were all amazed and pleased when almost 1,000 turned up. The Chippenham fans have had a reasonable amount of success over the years but I think they are hungry for more.

It was good to see Merthyr bring more than 100 fans with them. Welsh teams usually have a good away support and Saturday was no different.

After the match I think the supporters were shown how much we have come on since the beginning of December and hopefully we can maintain our push at the top.

It was marvellous that we remained unbeaten in 2005 and I think my assistant Ron Needlam was instrumental in that. He keeps the team focused and is irreplaceable.

I was delighted at the manner in which we won the game against Merthyr and deserved to win by a 2-0 score line. I think it was important to send the 900 odd fans home with a win.

When you get a big gate it is always vital to play well and hopefully entice some of them back for the next game.

It was a great way to finish off the month and I feel January was better than I ever imagined.

I have to try and keep everyone's heads straight as February is equally important if we wish to remain at the top of the table.