Welsh wizard Ali Chambers has played a huge part in Southend's promotion push and is poised to smash the 300-point barrier at Norwich tomorrow - but he could be kicking his last conversion for the club.
The winger has been ever present in the league for two seasons, out-kicking all-comers last term and more than 100 clear of his nearest points rival in London One this year, but is considering calling time on his Southend career.
"I'm enjoying my rugby and if we go up it will be very hard not to give it another go next year," said 29-year-old Chambers.
Ali Chambers (right) : In training but considering hanging up his boots at the end of the season Picture: NICK ANSELL
"But we'll have to see how it goes, I might call it a day. Mind you, I said that at the end of last season!
"If my knee stays strong and I'm fit and healthy it will be very tempting to keep going."
His knee problem was a serious criciate ligament injury -- suffered in his homeland and which sidelined him for almost a year -- during his days with Camarthen Quins in Division One of the Welsh National League.
He said: "I took a bad knock and could not carry on at the standard, but I'll have been at Southend for two years in July and have had a great time here.
"It's a great club and there's a fantastic atmosphere. I obviously took a bit of stick, especially being Welsh, but I gave a bit back and they've made me very, very welcome and generally looked after me."
Contacts at the club even tipped him off there was a job going at Fitness First in Southend, where the club train on Wednesdays and Chambers now works at the gym as a personal trainer.
The club have done well to look after him, though, as an avalanche of points from his trusty boot have helped them brush aside most challengers this term.
Chambers is 13 points shy of the 300 mark, with nearly 250 of them coming from kicks, and is looking to reach the milestone tomorrow -- but stresses that personal success takes a backseat to that of the team.
Published Friday, April 11, 2003
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