PAVING THE WAY FOR MORE GLORY
ALFIE PAVEY knows all about achieving success at Step 2 – and he’s backing new club Farnborough to experience the same highs.
The 27-year-old former Millwall hitman has proved one of Non-League’s top marksmen over the last few seasons having helped lead Maidstone United to the South title in 2021-22.
Now he is looking to prove himself again after joining an impressive quartet of new arrivals at Cherrywood Road this week as boss Spencer Day looks to re-energise a Farnborough side who just fell short of a play-off place in their debut season at Step 2 last time out.
Pavey was unveiled on Monday alongside a raft of top-level performers including former Millwall, Swindon and Tranmere Rovers defender Sid Nelson, Maidenhead midfielder Ryan Upward and winger Adam Mekki, from Dorking Wanderers.
In particular, though, Pavey has been brought in to solve a more specific problem – that as Boro’s new spot fixer – with Day’s men having missed no fewer than NINE penalties in the league last season, ultimately costing them in their quest to reach the knockout stages.
Challenge
Penalty king Pavey is happy to take on the challenge – and wants to become the missing piece of Boro’s promotion jigsaw.
“Farnborough were probably one of the best sides we played last year,” said the one-cap England C ace, who started the season at Dover Athletic before joining Braintree Town in January and eventually reaching the play-offs himself. “There are some very good players at the club already and by making the three other new signings this week is a statement in itself. Sid Nelson is a friend of mine and is a top player.
“There has been a lot of progression, both on and off the pitch. This is a very ambitious club with a target of winning promotion, and that’s what attracted me here. “This is definitely a top seven club in what I think is probably the strongest National League South there has been in many years. Torquay, Yeovil and Maidstone coming down will all be strong, and I think Westonsuper-Mare, coming up, will be also. It really promises to be an exciting season and I’m delighted to be given a fresh challenge.”
But while Pavey is relishing being a part of the promotion shake-up, his main aim at Farnborough this year will be to simply find a place he can call home.
Rapport
The much-travelled striker has completed no fewer than 17 different moves – including those on loan – in his 11year career so far and is keen to truly stamp his mark on one particular club and build a strong, long-standing rapport with the fans.
“I think I’ve been on the move every year it seems,” Pavey added. “There was that amazing season at Dartford (22 goals in 38 games) and another good spell at Dover got me a move to Barnet but, in hindsight, that proved to be a wrong decision.
“I chose money over being happy.
“After just a couple of games, I got a really bad injury in the FA Cup and a combination of Covid and Barnet having two or three managers in a year meant I couldn’t settle.
“All I wanted to do was play football so I dropped down a division to play for Maidstone but was largely kept out of the side by a fantastic team who went on to win the league.
“I went back to Dover but they put me on the transfer list in January, because of finances, but despite talking at length with Spencer, we couldn’t get the deal over the line and I went to Braintree for the rest of the season.
“The Farnborough link has always been there and I’m delighted to finally get it over the line. Spencer really wants me and that makes you feel good. I can’t wait to get started on June 28 and set about repaying that faith.”