In an emotional training ground moment, midfielder Filbert Thurston, one of 3 final survivors from the Stags X11 Cup campaign of 2021, arrived at the training ground for the last time today.
Despite a game on Tuesday, the veteran midfielder embraced Thorben Ziegler and Ernst Seitz, fellow X11 CL Campaigners, and got changed and ready for training as if it was any other day.
Former players Lucio Salinas, Alex Routledge and Randall Crousdon were amongst those who were there to welcome the creaking midfielder, who is limiting his training, but welcomed his last day on the training field amongst his friends and peers.
It's allowed, and even encouraged around these parts, to say Filbert has has a wonderful career, an X11 Cup win being the highlight, but 20 seasons at the team who developed him, being captain through the highs and the lows, and scoring some wonderfully important goals has driven him to become the legend he has developed into. 5 Division titles, now officially 6, and a cup win leading us into the X11 CL making him the most successful player in the history of this club.
Tuesday will become his 396th game for this club, the fans, and manager Naz. 69 goals and 122 assists is a welcome return for someone the club and fans felt love for from day one. Being captain brought great pride to him and his family, and he will lead us on our final day as we celebrate promotion at home against Die Krausen, who may look to spoil this party, and it's totally possible with the various emotions running around this small part of the Test Valley in Hampshire.
It's entirely fair to say, the opposition fans won't care too much, with all due respect - after relegation from 2b last season, they've been able to stop the drop, not good enough for promotion but easily too good for relegation. Their fans may well wish to join in the party on the Sunny south-central part of this wonderful Island we call home. A win for them isn't out of the question, but it won't stop the Stags fans from partying.
Whichever way the result goes, Filbert Thurston was once a Staines Swans hero. Now, upon his retirement, he can kiss the badge goodbye in front of his adoring fans and say he is a Picket Piece Legend. Our first since our move to Hampshire, but certainly not our last.
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