Veteran striker Roy Godden is making his final season one to remember after scoring seven times in one game - aged 44.

Godden has promised wife Amanda he will retire and while it’s a conversation they’ve had before, this really is it.

That will come as a relief to Farnborough OB defenders after his efforts in New Romney’s 9-0 victory in the Kent County League Premier Division on Saturday.

He was only on the pitch for an hour - but that was long enough for the former Dover, Deal and Hythe striker to work his magic.

“It was massively unexpected to score seven in a game but it was a nice thing to do,” said Godden.

“I’ve played every game this season but it’s only really the last couple of weeks that I’ve been niggle-free.

“It’s one of them where I couldn’t have done it without the lads helping me.

"I’m not going to run past people any more at my age, so I rely on the service from them.

“I get a little embarrassed really with people coming up and saying well done.

“I know I scored them but it’s not all down to me.”

New Romney have won five games in a row since starting the season with three defeats, with Godden on 11 goals.

He intends to bang in a good few more before calling it a day.

“The wife’s told me this is definitely my last season,” said Godden, who’s also played for Dartford and Tonbridge.

“She’s put up with me playing for 25 years.

“I was meant to retire a couple of seasons ago and then Covid kicked in with 10 games left, so she said I could do one more.

“Last year started and ended after nine games, so she said I could do this one, but this is definitely it.

“She’s the boss - you have to do what she says!

“I’ve played football for so long I don’t know what I’ll do with myself on Saturdays next season. Maybe play a bit of golf or something.

“To be honest, it's been my last season for about 10 years now, so it’s a standing joke with my mates.

“I don’t want it to be but it definitely is my last.

“Sometimes I’m like a tin man walking down the stairs in the morning after a game but I’m usually pretty good, I keep myself ticking over.

“I’ve been at New Romney for seven seasons and it’s a great club, with a real family feel.

“I played here as a youth as well, so it’s nice to go back and finish where it all started.”

Godden is well-known in Kent non-league circles but rates Hythe as the highlight of his earlier days.

He said: “I’ve had great experiences at all the clubs I’ve been at but I’m from Hythe, so it was nice to play for my hometown club.

"Paul Fisk was the manager and we had a great bunch of lads there.

"It’s not all about the football, it’s the friends you make along the way and that’s what I’ll miss when I hang up my boots, the changing room before and after games, and the social side."

Godden's seven goals saw him named in KentOnline's team of the week.

Read more: The latest sports news in Kent