Gillingham’s experienced goalkeeper Glenn Morris insists retirement never crossed his mind.
The 40-year-old played 14 games for the Gills last season as back-up for Jake Turner, showing he’s still got plenty to give, and is ready to challenge for that No.1 spot at the club again.
Morris said: “For me, I don’t feel like I am the age I am, I just get on with it. I train hard, I feel I live right and I do everything I can to keep my body in the best order.
“Since I was about 31-32 people have been writing me off every year, asking me when I am going to retire. I have had that for 10 years now, but I don’t think about it, I keep going and as long as I can play on I will.
“I didn’t even think about [retiring]. I felt like I was training well (last season) and I was playing well.
“I didn’t feel like I was deteriorating in any way, I trained as well as I have trained for a long, long time, probably better than ever last season.
“I have got better as I have got older as a goalie and it is more about other people’s perception of my age, but I feel good, touch wood.”
Morris was the player-of-the-year in the 2022/23 season but made way for Turner last term.
A spell in the team towards the back end of the campaign showed to everyone that he still had what it takes at the level and he’s ready to provide that competition for the keeper gloves again.
Morris said: “I think it would only help Jake if I am going to push him and I feel like I did last year, I trained as well as I ever had. He knew that if he was going to have any time where he wasn’t doing it, then I would have come in.”
Morris got a chance when Turner picked up an injury and kept the shirt once his teammate was fit again, playing in nine consecutive league games.
He said: “If you come in and don’t quite perform to the levels then you’d be straight back out, wouldn’t you? I possibly wouldn’t have got another contract.
“It was key to be able to show what I could do again. I know what I can do and that I feel good but sometimes you still have to show everyone else.”
Morris made his Football League debut in April 2002 and has had more than 20 managers, from caretakers like Keith Millen, to John Yems, Harry Kewell and his first boss, Paul Brush.
He’s no stranger to Gills’ new boss Mark Bonner and is looking forward to the challenge ahead.
Morris said: “I have known Mark from before, during my days at Southend where he was a youth coach, so our paths crossed and I have always kept an eye on how he has done since then. It will be nice to work with him and see how it goes.
“I managed to get a few games under my belt last season and it felt good in that period, it was just a shame as a team we couldn’t get over the line for the play-offs.
“That is always the aim but it is never easy in any league, everyone is aiming for the same
thing, it’s a tough old league.
“I’m sure we have more than enough in the squad but the main thing is you don’t look too
far ahead. We want to get a good early start, keep winning games and that’s all you can do.”
