Gillingham skipper Max Ehmer admits he’s as excited as he’s ever been at the start of a new season.
The feel-good factor at Priestfield is being felt around the dressing room as well as with the club’s fans.
“Yes, it probably is to be honest,” responded 32-year-old Ehmer, when asked if it’s the most excited he’s felt at the beginning of a campaign.
“With the faces that are coming through the door, it’s been a really strong pre-season performance-wise with who we played.
“Then the first game of the season, winning 4-1 there’s a real feelgood factor down there (in the changing room) and within the club. There’s no better place to be when it’s like that.
“It has given me an extra bit more in my battery. We’ve got to keep grinding out results and winning games, and then go from there.
“We scored four goals at home and it feels like it’s been years since we did that last. We played well but I still think we can do much better and with bodies to come back as well, I think we’ll only get stronger.”
Ehmer was handed the captain’s armband by new boss Mark Bonner and it’s a role he’s proud to have.
He’s up to 402 appearances on the all-time Gills list – a number he’s keen to add to.
“It’s massive for me, I’ve been here nine years and I love the club,” said Ehmer.
“It will be good to keep getting more appearances but we’ve got to keep on winning games.
“I wouldn’t say I was shocked when I got it (the captaincy) but it wasn’t really something that was on my mind.
“I’m really thankful to Mark Bonner and the club. But regardless of whether I’m captain or not, I’ll still play the same way and try and lead by example.”
The Gills travel to Morecambe this Saturday on the back of a midweek trip to Swansea in the Carabao Cup.
With plenty of travelling in League 2, miles on the road is something the players won’t be using as an excuse.
“It’s our job at the end of the day,” said Ehmer. “We’ve all done it for so many years now that we know it’s part and parcel of being a footballer.
“Some boys had recovery on Thursday and a training session on Friday, then head up. There’s no excuses on our behalf. We all knew what we signed up for when we signed pro contracts.
“It will be a tough game, there’s no easy game even if a team is at the bottom miles adrift.
“We saw that last year when we played Forest Green, I don’t think we beat them, we drew twice and they were bottom of the league both times so there’s no easy games.
“It was a good opening day (for us) and we’ll look to build on that.”
