Sittingbourne new boy Abdul Osman’s CV includes a winning goal at Anfield.

Midfielder Osman scored the decisive penalty as League 2 Northampton beat Liverpool in a Carling Cup tie.

His big moment came in front of the Kop as the Cobblers beat Roy Hodgson’s side 4-2 on spot-kicks after a 2-2 draw.

“It was probably one of the best nights of my life, in terms of football,” said Osman, recalling the 2010 third-round tie.

“We went into it thinking we were going to get absolutely smashed and when we went 1-0 down early on, we all looked at each other and thought, ‘It’s going to be 11s here!’

“But we stuck in there and managed to score a goal, we took belief from that and went 2-1 before they got their second.

“When it went to penalties I did stick my hand up to take one but I was hoping it wouldn’t get to me.

“I was nervous as anything, to be honest, stepping up in front of the Kop, but I put the ball in the back of the net.

“After it went in I just started sprinting around the pitch like I owned it. I couldn’t take anything in.

“I felt like I was in my own bubble.

“I couldn’t remember anything else apart from the boys jumping about.

“Liverpool were a very welcoming club, I had goosebumps before the game with the Kop singing, it was just unreal.

“They received us well and Roy Hodgson came and shook everyone’s hand after the game.”

Osman has joined Sittingbourne from Walton Casuals after the Southern League club folded at the end of last season.

The 35-year-old, who will also be involved in Brickies’ community coaching activities, arrives with quite the CV.

He played for Gretna in the Scottish Premier League before spending three years at Northampton.

He’s had a couple of spells in the Greek Superleague and made almost 70 appearances for Crewe Alexandra before returning to the SPL for a four-year stint with Patrick Thistle between 2014 and 2018, doing battle with Old Firm giants Celtic and Rangers.

“I loved it in Scotland,” said Osman, who also played north of the border at Falkirk and Brechin City.

“For me, it was better than being down here playing in League 1 or League 2.

“You were treated well, you had bigger crowds, I didn’t want to leave, to be honest.

“We never managed to beat Celtic or Rangers but it was a good experience going there playing in front of packed crowds and you learn a lot about football.

“In League 1, League 2, I felt it was a battle every game, whereas playing better teams in the SPL, you’d see things you don’t see at lower levels and pick stuff up.

“Playing at Rangers and Celtic is quite similar to Anfield.

“Ibrox was an absolute joke, the fans there were crazy; Celtic fans were a bit more reserved.”

Walton Casuals’ demise came as a surprise to Osman but he wasn’t without a club for long, with Sittingbourne player and former Patrick team-mate Jason Banton recommending him to Brickies boss Nick Davis.

They’re his second Kent club, following a spell at Dartford a couple of years ago, and Osman is glad to be on board.

He said: “I was a bit surprised Walton Casuals folded, they seemed a well-run club, so I didn’t see it coming.

“It’s actually the second time it’s happened to me.

“I was at Gretna when the owner died and his son didn’t want to continue, we were all made redundant and that was the only reason I came down to Northampton.

“I know Jason Banton really well, he came on loan at Partick for a bit, and he said he’d speak to the manager at Sittingbourne.

“I met Nick, he’s a good guy, he knows what he wants and it made sense to come here.

“You change as a player the older you get but I still try and get about the pitch, win the ball back, keep it moving and bring others into play and organise.

“With experience, you know the game more, you can talk people through games and you can manage your own game on the pitch.

“It should be a decent season.

“We’re a new team, we’re still getting to know each other, but once we gel, we’re going to be a problem for teams.”

Osman’s professional football background will be an asset not just for Sittingbourne but the community as a whole.

As a qualified coach, he’ll be coaching at the post-16 Sittingbourne football academy and also running regular sessions with youngsters, as well as visiting local schools.