Top-Up Gulliver Looking At Good Times To Come

Corby Town have seen plenty of highs and a few lows over the last two years.

From the joy of winning the Southern League and establishing themselves as a Blue Square Bet North side to the pain of just missing out on the play-offs last year and the sadness last month of the death of chairman Peter Mallinger.

Over that time, the playing squad has grown and shrunk, as have the crowds and the budget as players have come and gone.

But amongst it all there has remained one constant factor – Phil Gulliver at the heart of the defence.

The former Rushden & Diamonds man made his Steelmen debut against Rugby Town on New Year's Day in 2009 – and has been in the side ever since.

Whether it be the league, the FA Cup or just the Hillier Senior Cup, Gulliver hasn't missed a match.

And tomorrow, at Harrogate Town, he will bring up a century of Steelmen starts.

“I knew I was getting close to the 100 and it's something I'm very proud of,” he said.

“If you'd told me two years ago that I would have played in every game from the day I signed I probably wouldn't have believed you.

“But that's how it's gone, I've not missed a game since I've been here and touch wood, that will continue for a while yet.

“I don't know what this longevity is down to but I've always tried to do my best whenever I've played and the manager has kept faith with me and I've tried to repay him by doing well.”

Gulliver and Corby Town have been a happy marriage.

The signs that things would go well came immediately when the Steelmen kept six clean sheets in his first six games.

It was a run that re-ignited their Southern League promotion push, which ultimately ended in Gulliver lifting the league title trophy at the end of the season.

Picking up silverware is something Gulliver has got quite used to at Corby as the good times have largely continued to roll.

“Winning the Southern League when I first joined was the highest moment and then doing well in the Blue Square Bet North last year was great too,” Gulliver continued.

“This season has not gone so well but I'm still very much enjoying myself at Corby.”

But for every good time, there is a bad time and the Steelmen certainly experienced that last week as they were humbled 6-1 at home by Eastwood Town.

It was a result that left everyone as stunned as they were saddened.

But Gulliver is adamant the team will make up for it at Harrogate.

“I've had a tough week thinking about what went wrong last week, it was probably the lowest point in my footballing career, never mind just my Corby career, and I can only apologise to the fans for that result,” he said.

“I think if I had the money, I would have refunded the entry fees of everyone who came and endured that performance last week.

“But as a club we need to pull together and move on.

“We'd have loved a midweek game this week to help do that more quickly but that wasn't available.

“But once we get out there at Harrogate, I'm sure we'll go out there and perform as we know we can.

“We have a good record against them and while there are no easy games in this league, our results against them in the past are a good omen to go with.”