Hedge: Everton FC heartbreak was low point of my career – Tamworth Herald

FORMER Lambs keeper Jonathan Hedge is looking forward to seeing a few faces off the pitch this weekend – even if he doesn’t feature on it.

Hedge, who played for the Lambs during the 2011-12 season, is now at Grimsby Town, who welcome Tamworth on Saturday.

Hedge is currently out of the Grimsby side but is sure the Saturday encounter will be one to remember.

He said: “I may not get to play in it on Saturday but I know it will be a good one.

“I have so much time for Tamworth, I had a great year there, I always look out for this fixture before the season starts.

“I know a few of the lads there still, I know a lot behind the scenes, it is a club I respect a lot.

“It is a shame that I might not get to take part in the game, but hey that is football, I am playing catch-up still after leaving Cambridge.

“I am enjoying it at Grimsby, it is another great club, I just hope it is a great game against Tamworth now.”

There is one man still at the Lambs who Hedge singled out for a lot of praise ahead of the game.

He said: “Dale (Belford) was great for me, he helped my career so, so much.

“I had never played Conference level before I joined Tamworth, but Dale put me at ease from the off and I can never thank him enough.

“The training sessions he did were fantastic, I learnt so much during them.

“Because of him and the work he did I got into the England C squad and became a regular there.

“I also played some of the best stuff of my career.

“I just wish he was manager when I was there as things could have been a bit different.”

That is because, despite enjoying his time at the Lambs, Hedge still has painful memories of his time under then manager Marcus Law.

He said: “I enjoyed all but two weeks of my time, and that two weeks were probably the lowest point in my career.

“I was dropped around Christmas and New Year time and that included the Everton FA Cup game.

“That was so painful to watch and the worst thing is Marcus never gave me an explanation as to why.

“I was never told why I was dropped or anything like that, it was just you are in one minute, then out and then back in the team two weeks later.

“I still think about that a lot and I think I will never get over it or forgive it.

“But, what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger, I have to move on from that and, at a club like Grimsby, I am sure I will and can.”

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