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Gillingham goalkeeper Glenn Morris isn’t fussed about age - which isn’t a surprise after picking up the top award at the club’s presentation evening.
Morris is 39 - he turns 40 in December - but was Mr Consistent for the Gills during the past year and got the seal of approval from supporters who voted him their star man for the 2022/23 season.
He was player-of-the-year last season at former club Crawley and had been in the running for their 2021 award too, only to be pipped by Tom Nichols. The pair are team-mates again at Gillingham.
Morris – known to his team-mates as ‘Cat’ – had also picked up the POTY award at Crawley in 2017, 2018 and 2019.
The serial award winner - now with five trophies on the shelf - left the Gills after his first spell in 2016, then 33, but has proved that age is no barrier.
“I don’t think about it,” he said, when asked about his age. “As long as I am performing and feel good then that is all that matters, it is just a number.
“I feel good, that is the main thing, my body is holding up, touch wood.
“I don’t like to think too much about age, I think in football people hold onto it a bit too much maybe. I will keep going as long as my body tells me I can.
“I’m performing well and take care of myself.”
Morris didn’t have it easy at Gillingham during the first half of the season, playing in a team that was struggling for goals and wins. Despite the troubles, he helped ensure the manager didn’t have too many worries about goals being conceded. He’s kept 15 clean sheets in his 40 league appearances this term.
He’s now signed up for another season after recently agreeing a new deal.
“I am delighted to commit to next season,” he said. “I am looking forward to that. I would have liked to have backed it up to get a win (on Saturday) but that’s football.
“I am very pleased to have got it sorted. It wasn’t a difficult decision, I am really looking forward to it, I’ve really enjoyed my time here, it’s been brilliant.
“I will enjoy the rest in the summer when that comes after a big game (at Salford) and then go again.”
Morris has been first choice for the Gills since returning to the club in August but his first spell was different, spending two years at the club as no.2. He managed 10 league games in two years before heading off to Crawley.
He still enjoyed it, however, saying: “I has Stuart Nelson ahead of me who was a fantastic goalkeeper and there is only one position. He was doing well, that’s football, that happens.
“Like I tell any keeper, you have to keep believing, keep working hard, your chance will come, luckily it came again for me.”