Big ambitions for Mariners midfielder

SOUTH Shields midfielder Robert Briggs has set his sights on promotion after agreeing a new deal with the club, writes MARK CARRUTHERS.

The Mariners have experienced disappointment in each of the last two seasons as their march up the non-league pyramid was disrupted.

Last season they suffered a surprise 2-1 home defeat against Warrington Town in the play-offs before the coronavirus epidemic brought an end to their bid to claim this season’s Northern Premier League Premier Division title.

Briggs’ second spell at the club has been a largely successful one after he helped the resurgent Mariners to six trophies and three consecutive promotions.

Now, with the ink drying on a new deal with the club, the midfielder is keen to add to his list of achievements at Mariners Park.

He told the club website: “It’s a mixture of a lot of things, including a lot of loyalty to the club.

“I’ve been here for five years in this spell and another year when I was younger, and I wouldn’t have been able to just walk away after what has just happened.

“We were 12 points clear and I’m convinced we were going to win the league, and there was the disappointment of the play-offs last year as well.

“Winning promotion from this league is a massive motivation for me and I don’t feel like I could choose to walk away until we’ve done it.

“I don’t want to leave until the club is in a position I can’t follow it to, for example if they go full-time with no part-time players.”

Briggs also revealed that he is keen to leave a lasting legacy from his time with South Shields.

The 28-year-old surpassed 250 appearances for the club last season and he wants to follow the example of former team-mate Julio Arca by leaving something behind when he finally departs from Mariners Park.

“I want to play for as long as possible.

“I want to set records and I want people to remember the fact I was part of the whole journey here.

“Julio Arca gets a lot of praise and rightly so for what he did here.

“I want to leave something like he did.

“It’s not just about making so many appearances, it’s about being part of a successful team in those games.

“I want to set the bar up there for someone to come and break, which they probably will.”