Adem Ramadan made his comeback from a broken leg in Ashford’s final game of the season.

Winger Ramadan played the last 15 minutes of the Nuts & Bolts’ 3-2 defeat by Broadbridge Heath in Isthmian South East on Saturday.

He’d been sidelined since suffering a double break during a Kent derby at Hythe in August, a game that was subsequently abandoned.

It’s been a long road back for the former Tonbridge and Margate man, who was determined to play a part at the weekend.

“The physio, Ben Coles, didn’t think it was worth the risk but I’ve been trying all season to get back on the pitch one more time,” said Ramadan.

“It meant a lot to me. It was a tight window to get back because I didn’t want to sit around the whole summer waiting to see if it was better for pre-season and next season.

“In the end, I wore Ben down but he wouldn’t have let me play if he wasn’t confident everything was OK.”

An early kick from an apologetic Broadbridge player put Ramadan’s leg to the test but he enjoyed his 15-minute cameo.

“Where it was the last game and neither side had anything to play for, I thought it might be a bit easier, not that any game is easy,” he said.

“But, to be honest, sitting on the bench and seeing the tempo I felt quite nervous.

“I’d been on about five minutes when I had the ball and got kicked from behind. I could almost feel Ben on the sideline gasping waiting to see if there was any reaction.

“It hurt but I got up and it was a weight off my shoulders thinking I can get kicked without it being too delicate.

“Fair play to the fella. As soon as he did it, he apologised and said, ‘I didn’t realise, sorry’ but I was like, ‘That’s fine, geezer’.

“I probably upset Alan (Walker, interim boss) a bit because he told me to go up top and I was running back trying to get the ball all the time.

“I just really wanted the ball. It was enjoyable. As I came off, I said to the physio I felt like I could have done half an hour.”

Ramadan avoided surgery on his leg, with the nature of the breaks meaning it was better to let them heal naturally.

Wearing a protective boot, it was a case of putting weight on his leg to stimulate the healing process, which was monitored by regular X-rays.

With Ashford in the midst of a takeover and a new manager set to be appointed, Ramadan doesn’t know what the future holds.

But by getting back on the pitch, he’s put his name out there.

“I need to do a pre-season now,” he said. “Before those 15 minutes, my last game was eight months ago.

“The way the season went at Ashford, with Kevin Watson (ex-manager) losing his job, most of the players have gone now.

“Normally it’s a case of looking how the land lies for next season but we don’t know who the manager is at Ashford yet, so it’s a bit up in the air.

“I wanted to play in that game to be able to clap the fans and thank them for all their support while I’ve been out injured.

“I don’t know what’s happening but normally when a non-league manager comes in, he brings his own players, so it’s a case of waiting to see what happens but I’m raring to go.

“I’m not sure where I’ll be next season but I’ll definitely be playing.

“When a season pans out the way it should, you normally get a few calls from managers in the league above or the same league or the manager where you are wants to keep you.

“Where things haven’t gone to plan I might have been forgotten about or lost where there are so many players in non-league.

“The fact my name was on the teamsheet on Saturday sends a couple of messages around to say I’m available or I can play, so even if a new manager comes in here, he can see I’m not a liability.

“It’s so good to be back. Everyone was saying it only feels like a couple of months since I played but to me it feels like years where I was sat indoors not able to do anything.”

Ashford finished 11th in Isthmian South East after losing to Broadbridge.

Lanre Azeez and David Ozobia scored as the Nuts & Bolts hit back from two down but the visitors grabbed a late winner.