Knowles Proud To Be Starting Another Season With Avenue

The defender has made over 200 appearances for the club and aiming for plenty more, writes Tom Feaheny.

The season gets underway this weekend for Avenue as they face Tamworth away.

Knowles explained why the club means so much to him.

"The club seems to be like a magnet as I keep coming back. The people around the club and the fans have always been great with me and personal playing reasons were the only reason I had left in the first place.

"200+ appearances is a great honour and I hope to make many more while my body lets me."

Mark Bower is currently in his first pre-season with the club after joining mid-way through the last campaign, Knowles says the players are enjoying the process.

"I think everyone is looking forward to the start of the season. It's going to be a big test as there are some really strong sides in the division this year with a handful full time. But the way we finished last season and the players the gaffer has brought in we are confident we can have a good season and cause some upsets.

"The players who have come in have added to a squad that was playing some good football at the end of last season and at the moment they are fitting in really well. Our aim is the same as last year from the moment Mark brought me in. That is to do as well as we can and see where that takes us.

"Many had written us off last year but in the second half of the season we became hard to beat and hopefully with a few new players who know where the goal is we could have a very successful season with the playoffs and a good cup run a very realistic target."

Knowles admitted that after suffering a bad injury while playing for FC United of Manchester he is relishing the chances he has to play the game.

"I broke my Tib and Fib and due to a few complications this kept me out for over 16 months. Throughout this period I found it hard to watch games as I have been very fortunate to start most of the games throughout my career. The feeling I had when I could get back out and playing was unreal and that has driven me to try and keep as fit as possible so I can continue to play at this level."

Photo by Tim Roberts.