Non-League and Academy football writer

Lymore Gardens player Malik Donaldson was my player of the match on Friday evening, after scoring a hat-trick of goals in a 4-3 opening game of the season victory over Stansted. It was a brilliant performance from Malik against Stansted, as Lymore Gardens got off to a good start in their second season in the Thurlow Nunn League First Division South. Thank you to Malik for agreeing to do a short post-match interview with me.

Could you talk me through a bit about your background in football?

Malik: I started off at the Leyton Orient Advanced Soccer School. I was there for about five years, but after not really progressing in football I kind of fell out of love with football, and so I stopped playing until I was about 18/19. Then I played for Blue Marlin for one season. After playing against Lymore for the first time with Blue Marlin, I noticed that the majority of my friends were there, and so I joined them after that and I’ve been here ever since.

What has been your standout moment in non-League football, so far?

Malik: I think that getting to the play-offs in our first season, as well as getting to the fifth round of the FA Vase with Lymore, would be the two standout moments so far.

What are some of your thoughts on this evening’s game?

Malik: The first 10 to 15 minutes we went 2-0 down. After trying something different it didn’t quite work, so we just went back to our old ways, and you saw what happened when we did that. I’m proud of getting a hat-trick tonight. I was holding onto the ball for a bit too long, but after speaking to the gaffer he just said to me to not hold on to it as long, and do some more one-twos. And it worked out as I got my three goals!

What are some of your personal hopes and aims for this season, with Lymore Gardens? 

Malik: I just want to do better than last season, and to get more goals and assists. Hopefully we can do even better as a team than last season, and hopefully we can also win something this season.