Captain Louis Valencia played his 300th game for Hollands & Blair last Tuesday.

Blair presented him with a special award ahead of their midweek game against Lydd Town and manager Scott Porter has led the praise for the club skipper.

Porter said: “Since I have been at the football club it’s not just about football, our wives and kids get on, it is a friendship thing.

“I have been with him for two years now, not as long as what the club has had him, but he’s been a great servant and he is still a big part of the club.

“We brought him off Saturday and the week before - he knows his legs aren’t what they were - but with the likes of Rob Gilman, Matt Bourne and Richard Atkins, you have to look after the older heads. The younger lads have to appreciate that, they don’t need to do what others do.

“I am sure Louis has a future at the club whenever he decides he wants to finish.

“He was big for me when I first came through the door (as manager) because everything was new to me.”

Valencia, 34, made his Blair debut 11 years ago in the Kent Invicta League and in his first season helped the club win the Kent Invicta Challenge Trophy. The following season he played a big part in the club winning the Kent Invicta League title.

He moved to Phoenix Sports and bagged another league title but was back at Star Meadow for the 2015/16 season, with more silverware coming the club’s way in the form of the Championship Shield and the Southern Counties East Challenge Cup.

There was another brief move away, with Erith Town, before returning for a third spell at Blair in a Covid-hit two years. He was captain for the 2021/22 season, on the losing side in the Kent Senior Trophy Final against Sheppey, but the next year lifted the Challenge Cup after beating Fisher.

In 301 appearances, which includes 270 starts, Valencia has scored 27 goals and double that number for assists.