After scoring his first goal for the Club at Notts County last week, Gillingham defender Max Clark has been talking to KSN this week and has been comparing the current play-off challenging squad at Priestfield with the Stevenage squad that he won promotion from League Two with last season.

“There not a lot of difference really,” Clark told us. “I feel that we have a group of lads here who believe in each other. I think we need to start more consistently as a team and when we have won a game, we need to back it up with the next one to keep the momentum going. In comparison, we have a good group of lads, and I do not think that there is a lot in it really!” 

“I am determined; I want to get promoted again and that is why I came here. I believed in the squad and the ability and in every game we go into now, we know that we need the three points, that’s the main thing, and as every games coming now it’s getting closer to the end of the season and we need to make sure that we are right up there and I honestly believe that we will be.” 

Clark has had periods on the sidelines this season and was of those was when the Club changed managers before Christmas.

“It was a difficult time for me personally,” Clark admitted, “I knew in my head that I had to keep going and working hard for a place as there is a lot of good competition here.

“There are a lot of good players and there are times when you are going to be out of the squad and out of the team, but you’ve got to remain positive for the lads who are playing and you back whoever is playing in the position and the others who are in the team as if we’re all together as a team, we will achieve as a team.

That’s what we had last year (at Stevenage) whoever wasn’t playing, backed each other and that’s why so close a group got us up last year, there’s no time for sitting around, moaning you just have to work hard and make sure that you have a right to be in the team.” 

After Clark netted at Meadow Lane last Friday evening, the goal celebrations showed a sign of relief. “I hadn’t been playing and I just enjoyed it,” Clark said.

“I enjoyed being back playing and as a footballer all you want to do is play football, and it’s been a long time. There was a lot of passion towards the goal and personally I think it’s one of my best!” 

Speaking about Tuesday’s 2-2 draw with Swindon, Clark said, “We were gutted that we could not take the win. The atmosphere was really good when we walked out, and the fans were really good.

“I had heard about the rivalry before the game, and I think that’s why we were even more gutted to take the draw and we didn’t win the game for the fans, but we go again on Saturday at Newport and hope we can put things right there!” 

One of the stars of the draw was young Colombian Jorge Hurtado, Clark told us, “He’s a good player, he’s confident, he’s a young lad who I believe will have a great career and for us right now I think it’s so important that he brings that excitement to the fans!

“It helps us out massively, I think at times he does not know what he’s doing but it works, and I think that he’s a good young lad who has come here to get his head down and is full of confidence.

“It’s great for the group as well as the guys love him, and I think he’s going to be so important for us as well going into these run of games as we have a busy month!”