James Pugsley re-joins Rovers

Defender James Pugsley has rejoined Rovers from promotion chasing Aveley. I managed to speak to James regarding his return to the club that is close to his heart......

You’ve re-signed for Rovers, leaving an Aveley side pushing for promotion. What’s your reason behind that?
Don't remind me hahahah, I wasn't getting as much game time as I wanted, obviously apart from the 4-2 win against Wakering but we wont go into that. Aveley is a good club with decent management and players and I hope they make the play offs come end of the season, but for me I needed to be playing week in week out and there's only one club I was coming back to do that for this season.

Keith is having to trial new players during the season in an effort to build a squad following the whole first team leaving when Gary Ansell left as manager. What are thoughts on the issues Keith is having?
Things like this happens, perhaps not to this extent, and I can't comment on what the squad of players under Gary did, as most of them are friends outside of football so they all had their own reasons which I won't go into. They made their own decisions.
What we should remember are the good times the club had under Gary and also Trenks before him, during the last 4 years and what was achieved by both of them.
Football changes and things happen, whether its right or wrong its all about opinions. But its down to what they feel is right at that time.
What I would say is, signing new players is part of being a manager and you see most managers taking players to clubs with them. If I was a manager I would want to sign my own players, to put my own stamp on the team.

Coming back to the club and having your chat with Keith, what was said during your discussions on re-joining?
To be honest with you its been done pretty quickly and I haven't really had a chance to speak to Keith properly. The only discussion that needs to happen is to restore some pride back into the club and the only way to do that is to show heart and effort on the pitch and to get back to winning games. Naturally my heart is at Rovers so I'll be doing everything I can to get the club winning matches again.

You're the current Supporters Player of the Year. There's not many games remaining this season, but a good target to retain that award?
Well seeing as the previous 3 Supporters Player of the Years have left the following year so I think it needs to be renamed! :)
Obviously the main focus has to be getting the team back to competing in this league again so personal rewards have to be put to the back of your mind. I'm not saying it wouldn't be nice to win it again though!

With young players in the squad, you're probably an elder statesman now. Who did you have looking after you when you were a youngster in the Rovers side?
For me you need to find a good balance of youth and experience, especially in the Ryman League and the teams that are in it. For me Danny Heath is a good go to man for advice but during my younger years, Dan Trenkel was the player that took me under his wing. He has the experience and knowledge, not only of Rovers, but non league/football in general. Your'e always learning, and nobody can say they are a complete player at even in your mid 20's, you're never a completed player. Even now there's still things that I pick up from experience and experience is critical.

Is there anyone within the current squad that you've played with before, or against?
If I'm honest, I had to check the current team to see if I knew anyone. I've seen the club still have Billy 'Sick Note' Johnson, Jacob Cleaver, Jake Gordon and Dan Gilchrist from the last few seasons. I was gutted to see John Easterford leave as his experience speaks for itself and he is a good lad. Scott Pethers is another that I've played alongside in the past.

What are you looking to bring to the team, both on and off the pitch?
The club know me. Supporters know me. They know what I'm about on and off the pitch. They know I will always give 110% on the pitch and help out as best I can off it. Rovers is a club that is sort of ingrained in me and having been there for so long in the past, it is nice coming back. It was good having some experience with Aveley, but Rovers is a special club for me.
The main focus is moving forward. To take each game as it comes and go about your business efficiently and get the team playing football the way it should.

Do you have a message for the supporters during this difficult time?
In football, clubs have ups and downs. It would be boring if they didn't but suffice to say we're in a position that isn't ideal but other clubs around us are in a similar position. I'm not dwelling on recent results or off the pitch happenings. We take each game as it comes and work on our failings, trying to better it the next game.