Ten years gone, another ten to go. That was the message from Colchester United stalwart Karl Duguid ahead of his testimonial match against West Ham United at Layer Road tonight (kick-off 7.45pm).
Karl Duguid
The 26-year-old, from Hitchin, has come a long way since he first reported to then youth coach Steve Foley for pre-season training in the summer of 1994 - and he believes there is more to come.
"I think there is a good ten years left in me," said Duguid, who was part of the old Division Three play-off winning side in 1998 and the team that lost on penalties - including one he missed himself - in the 1997 Auto Windscreen Shield final.
"Whether my playing days will end at Colchester or not is another thing, but there is still plenty I want to achieve in my football career."
Ambitious Duguid believes the U's are looking good going into the forthcoming Coca-Cola League One campaign and hopes they continue their unbeaten run in the pre-season friendlies by winning against West Ham.
"We have looked good so far, and I was impressed with what I saw in Saturday's 2-1 win against Watford," he said.
"We had a lot of players leaving in the summer, but the boss (Phil Parkinson) has brought in some good replacements and I think we are going to be moving forward this year.
"I can't see Colchester going backwards."
Duguid will be kicking-off the match tonight, but recent surgery to repair a knee he injured last season means he will not be playing any more than a couple of minutes.
Published Wednesday July 28, 2004
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