Gillingham defender Callum Davies is looking forward to challenging for a regular place in the side next season.

Last season was a real breaktrhough for the 20 year old as he made eighteen appearances for The Gills as they won League Two.

Davies had made his debut for Gillingham in November 2010 under then manager Andy Hessenthaler, but was red carded in the 3-1 defeat to Crewe Alexandra at Priestfield.

The central defender was to make three appearances for the club in the following season, but under Martin Allen, Davies has been given more of a run in the side, not just in central defence, but as a holding midfielder.

With the season now over and Gillingham looking forward to life back in League One, Davies told KSN how he still can’t quite believe how well things had gone for the side in the past twelve months:

“It still hasn’t really sunk in that we’ve been promoted. It will probably once the new season gets underway and we’re going to places like Wolves.”

“We’ve just got to take it all in our stride and push as high as we can when we get there.”

“To go up as Champions was superb and you can’t beat that feeling.”

As for his own challenge, Davies admits it will be hard to force his way into the side ahead of skipper Adam Barrett and Leon Legge, but wants to work hard to push for a place in the starting eleven:

“I’ve just got to get my head down, keep working hard and see where it takes me and I’ve probably just got to bide my time.”

“There’s no easing off for me in the summer and I’ve already got my fitness planning mapped out and have already started running again ahead of next season.”

“It’ll be tough to dislodge both Adam and Leon, but that’s what I might have to do and I’ll keep doing my best to work my way into the team.”

Davies joined striker Danny Kedwell as they helped promote the Tour de Kent bike ride which will see hundreds of riders take to the streets of Kent to raise money for both CRY – Cardiac Risk in the Young and Take Heart Mercy Mission.

The riders will leave Priestfield on Saturday 25th May, heading around Kent over the next three days, taking in 21 football grounds, whilst cycling over 200 miles to raise funds for the two charities.

There will be some familiar faces in the field and Davies is supporting all of those taking part:

“It’s a great cause and as we are their local club, we’ve got to do all we can to support charities like this.”

“With people doing it that we know, like Mark Patterson and Andy Hessenthaler, it’s important that we give it as much promotion as possible.”

“In football, because you are working your heart all of the time, it’s essential you are tested and it’s important that we try and raise as much money as possible to help with screening more people in the future.”

When quizzed about the chances of both Hessenthaler and Patterson, Davies was more optimistic about his former Director of Football and less so about the former Development Coach:

“I think Hess will make it as he is quite fit, but Patto is going to struggle and I hope there is an ambulance tracking his whereabouts!”

“Fair play to all of the people doing it, but Patto is not just the wrong side of forty, he’s the wrong side of forty stone!”

“It’s pretty good for him to be getting on a bike, but I feel sorry for the suspension!”

To find out more about the cycle ride, visit the website – www. tourdekent13.co.uk