Harleston Town manager Matt Halliday says midfielder Nathan Page will go down as a club legend regardless of whether he returns to add to 200-plus appearances next season

Regardless of whether his body allows him to carry on for another season or not, Harleston Town manager Matt Halliday believes Nathan Page will go down as a club legend for his dedication and exploits with the Magpies.

The midfielder, who will turn 35 this summer, revealed he turned down the chance for any kind of fanfare to mark his 200th appearance for the town side when they hosted Cornard United last month.

But it was certainly not through any lack of affection for a club he admitted dropping down a few leagues from Dereham Town to join back in the summer of 2016 for what he foresaw as a ‘stop-gap’ to get him going again after a spell sidelined through injury.

On why he never properly left over the past decade, memorably winning promotion twice: lifting the Anglian Combination Premier Division title in 2017/18 and winning the Thurlow Nunn League First Division North play-offs as runners-up in 2021/22, he said it was due to multiple reasons.

“The people first and foremost, everybody around the club from the chairman to the fans - we’ve got a great little support base there now, and obviously the boys in the changing room.

“I think the changing room has been great over the years. We've never really tolerated anyone that gets too big for their boots, it's always been down to earth lads that just enjoy playing football and winning football games.

“And I suppose also the ambition of the club, we've never been satisfied.

“I wouldn't play for a team that is just going to sit at mid-table every year. I always want to be kicking on and we've always had that.”

Having signed under Adam Gusterson, whom he played for at Dereham, he has also been a mainstay of the side under subsequent managers Leon Moore, Nicky Howell and Nathan Stone, Danny Crow and, in a deeper lying midfield role nowadays, under Matt Halliday this season.

“I have only worked with Pagey for a short period of time but he is a fantastic player,” said his current boss Halliday, who came in during November.

“It is rare for a player to stay at a club for so long but he is a player that has shown loyalty and passion for Harleston.

“I think he will go down as a club legend; he has given everything.

“His ability mixed with determination have made him a cornerstone of the team.

“He’s a fans’ favourite and a players’ favourite which is a real testament to him.”

With the player who is based just outside Norwich having missed last Saturday’s 4-0 Premier Division victory at The Rec against Lakenheath due to a persistently-occurring Achilles issue, Halliday is hopeful of having him back fit for his 15th-placed side’s visit to 16th-placed Stowmarket Town tomorrow (3pm).

But Page, who also suffers with his knee, admits there is a real chance any action in these four remaining games could be his last at this level and in a Magpies shirt.

“I’ve already spoken a bit to the club about it,” he said.

“I've had knee injuries now for the last two years so I’m going to see out this season, get by as much as I can and then rehab and recover in the summer and then just see where my legs are at the end of summer.

“If I'm going to play, it'll more than likely be at Harleston but I’m beholden to my body.”