Newark & Sherwood players Luke and Toby White and Ryley Thompson.have reached 100 appearances for the club
Three Newark & Sherwood players have reached 100 appearances for the club this season.
Brothers Luke and Toby White have brought up the milestone, along with Ryley Thompson.
They’ve been presented with special club caps marking their achievements.
The trio, who all live in Newark, were part of the Highwaymen side who lifted the Notts Senior Cup two years ago, with Luke scoring the winner in a 3-2 victory against Carlton.
They played together at Boston Town before signing for Newark & Sherwood three years ago.
Luke, 25, and Ryley, 26, have been friends for years, having come through the youth ranks together at Lincoln City.
“I’m close with my brother, for obvious reasons, and I’ve been best mates with Ryley for 10 or 12 years, so for us all to reach 100 appearances makes it extra special,” said Luke.
“Scoring the winner in the cup final is the moment that stands out.
“When I signed, I had a longer summer holiday, so I didn’t start the first few games.
“Then I got in the side and scored 24 goals from midfield, so that was a good one personally.
“I left last season for about six months but when Rom (manager Romaine Graham) got the job, I came back.
“In non-league, although it’s serious and you want to finish as high as you can, the lads make it.
“That camaraderie and how well we all get on, it’s a big part of it.
“We’ve all got a job to do but to have the enjoyment and have a laugh in the bar afterwards with your mates, that makes a difference. It makes you want to run that bit extra for your mates.
“I’m nearly at 50 goals, too, so it would be nice to get that.”
Defender Thompson enjoys playing for his local club and hopes to be part of the team when they return to the town.
They currently play home games at Harrowby while working on plans for a new ground.
“It’s a good club and, being from Newark, it’s ideal,” said Thompson. “When you play for your hometown club, it feels like your club.
“I just want to keep racking the games up.
“There’s talk of a new stadium - it would be good to be playing back in Newark. That would be a special moment.”
Thompson also rates the Notts Senior Cup success as his finest moment.
Graham, now the club’s manager, was part of the Newark side that day.
“It was a tough game but one of those where everything clicked for us,” said Thompson.
“Rom was the captain that day. I get along with him well.
“He’s one of those characters who’s dead chilled until he’s not.
“He was a good captain, a good player and I like him as a manager.”
Toby has chalked up 100 appearances by the age of 19.
It’s an impressive achievement for the youngster.
He said: “I joined when I was 17, at the same time as Ryley and Luke, and I’ve played there ever since.
“We’re all from Newark, which makes it more special.
“I always played football with Luke when I was growing up, so it’s nice to actually be in the same team as him.”
Toby has his sights set on a second Notts Senior Cup triumph.
They visit Radford in the semi-finals on Tuesday.
“Hopefully, history can repeat itself,” he said. “We could still make the play-offs but it’s a bit distant, so it’s nice to focus on winning the cup.
“It’s nice to get promoted but a cup run seems a lot more special.”
Boss Graham paid tribute to the trio.
He said: “They’ve been great servants. They’ve had their suitors, certainly, but they’re committed to the cause and you try and build the team around lads like that.
“It always helps when you’ve got lads who’ve played together for a while and it’s nice that they’re all from Newark.”
