2008/09 Player of the season countdown

#5. Rob Stewart

Apps: 18; Goals: 2; Assists: 3

You can always assume Rod will be available when Banter has a game. He only missed 2 games this campaign and is Banter’s all time leading appearance holder with 39. Which is useful, since his presence in the centre of the park is always so important. He’s partnered just about everyone in there, demonstrating versatility in not just playing the midfield attacking role as well as the defensive one, but moving out wide and on many occasions up front to play off the central striker. He was also part of the front line during the successful 4-2-4 formation that ruined Sovereign. All that he is about was demonstrated in this game from a wide position: his work rate is one of his finest attributes, his passing is both calm and composed and his willingness to get stuck in make him a regular for very good reason. His brother Jon played his first game in the 3-2 win over Sovereign and they had an instantly good understanding with one another, linking up to get the scores level at 1-1.

He made 16 consecutive starts between 19th October and 15th March (still counting), which is more than anybody else this season and a record that can only be bettered by Wuker between October 2007 - January 2009 (32). As has been said on this site before, how often you are available for selection is hugely important at this level, but with Rod's consistency and quality, it makes it all the more of a plus point.

His first goal came in the 3-0 win over Sanderstead in October, a lovely glancing header which looped in after the goalkeeper had come off his line and not got to Jewish’s cross in time. Though Fintan will always feel he could score more goals, his all round play offers so much more, demonstrated none more so than his man of the match display against Sovereign before Christmas. Though his team lost, he covered every blade of grass on the pitch and came off feeling how most should feel more often after a game - knackered.

He played a disciplined and effective holding midfield role against Oakfield and Madras, late in the season too. A position usually played by Jonny, Fintan filled in there, spreading the play nicely, keeping it simple and allowing Adkins and Hughes to roam ahead of him, which brought 6 goals in 2 games as well as a tap-in for himself during that Oakfield match.

He had a couple of troublesome games in November and was substituted in the 4-4 draw with Coulsdon Rangers, but if anything this had a positive effect on the man with soft hair as he turned it around and dug deep every week thereafter.

Rod's dedication to Banter has been apparent from the very beginning, he trains every week too and he will hope that he can improve even more next season the way in which he's progressed from the previous campaign. If he could add more goals I'm sure it would make him happier, I'd like to see him push forward and stick his laces through the back of the ball when nothing else is on a bit more often. He has the quality, but like many others he perhaps looks elsewhere before being more selfish. His highest expectation though will to be an ever-present in 2009/10 once again.

If moaning were an Olympic sport, he'd win gold, silver and bronze, by the way.

Written by Richard Clark.