Scole United play a key role in Ben Mayhew's return between the posts
Ben Mayhew recently helped his hometown club Bury Town to pick up six valuable points in the BetVictor Isthmian League North Division – and the goalkeeper has credited Scole United for helping to make that possible.
After a number of seasons keeping goal for the likes of Bury, Ely City, Mildenhall Town and Ipswich Wanderers, the 33-year-old decided earlier this campaign – while on the books at Stanton – that enough was enough.
He had fallen out of love with football and with other commitments off the pitch, Mayhew took the decision to free up his Saturday afternoons.
However, a conversation with Scole manager Lee Sturgeon towards the back end of last year tempted the shot stopper to dust off his gloves – though he only intended it to be a short-term return.
But, after making eight appearances for the Hadley & Ottaway Anglian Combination Premier Division side, Mayhew has rediscovered that passion for the game and when Bury came calling to help ease an injury crisis at the Denny Bros Stadium, he was only too happy to oblige.
He helped the Blues to overcome Histon and Grays Athletic before a narrow defeat to league-leading Maldon & Tiptree – and is now set to return to Scole this weekend for their home clash against Bradenham Wanderers (2.30pm).
“I had given up with football. I started the season with Stanton but my love for football just was not there any more,” he said.
“Football became something I just did because it is something I had always done – there was no buzz. Last season did not help because I could not really settle anywhere until I got to Ipswich Wanderers. In the end it was pretty easy to walk away.
“I have known Lee for a long time and when he asked me to come over, I probably had started to miss football a bit.
“It is a good squad at Scole but needed a bit of experience in the dressing room. To be honest I was not expecting much in terms of the standard and professionalism, but Scole is a fantastic club with very good people behind the scenes.
“The buzz has come back and I cannot thank Scole enough for that. They are such a tight knit group and that is why I have always wanted to play football – to be part of a squad that is so desperate to win games of football.
“If it had not been for Scole, I would not have been in a position to come in and help Bury out.
“I have a lot of good relationships at Bury and I could never turn down playing for my hometown club.
“It’s such a challenge every time I play for them. Maybe I might not be at that level, but that is through no lack of effort or desire.
“It is a phenomenal level of football to play at and to help the lads get a couple of wins is fantastic.”
Last weekend, Scole played out a 3-3 draw and then won 11-10 on penalties against Bradenham to reach the semi-finals of the Mummery Cup.
