2008/09 Player of the season countdown

#4. Jonny Gill

Apps: 14; Goals: 1; Assists: 2

He'd make a good soldier. He'd have been even better under Hitler in Nazi Germany. Jonny is all about discipline. The football is his baby and he makes sure it is taken care of. Do not be so careless as to give it away, or else you'll be on the end of one almighty bollocking.

Whilst his dry sense of humour and quick wit are always great off the field, Gillardino takes it seriously on it, which is an admirable quality and one that is so much a part of him that it's seen him be so successful as an individual and stand-out performer. Always playing possession football, he is an advocate for two-touch play, one to get it under control, another to send it on its way and keep the ball moving. No one player is more indispensable than the ball itself and Banter's #19 knows it only too well. Excellent last season, even better this season.

He began the season fantastically, in the pre-season friendly against Atheltico Croydon he picked up the man of the match award with a typically efficient display, but it was his tackling that I recall being so impressed with. It's arguably something he needed to work on from 07/08 - not interceptions so much, but the basics of shutting an opponent down or a slide tackle - but he proved right from the off that he was willing to get stuck in as well as dictate play. He picked up another MOTM award for his performance on the first day against Croydon Postal when he partnered Baird in central midfield, too. The result wasn't right, but both performed excellently.

He went through a spell of taking 15-20 minutes to adjust and get going during games, but when he did they were dictated to the pace and tempo that he wanted. For my money, he controlled Oakfield (1-2), Sanderstead (3-0) and Santos (5-1) games during October and even managed a decent enough shift against Monkey Tennis, this time partnered by Euro in midfield. It was in the first of these games mentioned that he got his only goal of the season. Though perhaps fortunate, he cleverly hit a deep free-kick to the back post, right between six yard box and penalty spot for it to evade all and go in without a touch.

He was also fantastic in the middle in a lot of people's favourite game - the 3-2 win over Carlton in December - where he pulled the strings, remained composed and seemingly managed to get the ball to his feet from every single Banter throw-on all game in order to keep possession.

For someone so influential and to possess such qualities that are not found elsewhere throughout the team, he could be even higher up this list and in the top 3. But, Jonny, like in 07/08, just didn't play enough past Christmas. He played an entirely different role in January against Sovereign - a two man midfield where he was instructed to hit passes long, into the channels and over the defence and it got him an assist with a lovely pass to Wommy, too. But past this game he played just twice more from six opportunities, which is a shame given his huge influence - something Banter will miss when he takes off to Canada in the winter. Not that it has a bearing on his performances on a Sunday, but he was also regularly absent at training too for some time. When in attendance, however, his team - rather frustratingly - will usually win.

You could count the amount of bad games he's had this season on one hand, but even then I think you'll be wasting four fingers. So steal his passport and don't let him eat any mince pies or turkey at Christmas, either.