Having been part of the defence that kept four cleans sheets in a row in December bringing us four wins, Stephen Hodge was awarded Player of the Month. I found out a little bit more about him after our win over AFC Varndeanians at the Withdean Stadium.

How are you finding the new role in a back three? Did you have any concerns about it?

It is a very different role to playing as a right back in a four. Though having said that, I did play that role when I was in youth football moving to right back when I was sixteen or seventeen. Since playing in the First Team at Lingfield we probably have changed to a back three at times to try to get a result in games over the years. I had no concerns about the change and I enjoy providing an extra layer in defence with my pace.

What is your history with Lingfield? When and how did it start?

I was playing at Whyteleafe in their U18 and U23 sides – note: this would be during the time that Whyteleafe were an Isthmium League club at Step 4. I got into the First Team at right back due to injuries. Then at the start of one season I was sent to Banstead Athletic in Step 5 for pre-season and played in a friendly against Lingfield. I knew Conor Wilford and former Linger Sammy Clements from Whyteleafe and they could see that I was not really settling in there. So, my number was passed on and within a couple of weeks I was a Linger. This would have been after the start of the season around October 2017.

Well having found some old programmes I can say that Stephen’s first appearance came from the bench on 15 September 2017 in a home game against Midhurst & Easebourne. It also says that he scored one of the goals in our 5-0 win. The next match was against Ringmer and Stephen made his first start in the 2-1 win at The Lair. He was a regular from then on.

As far as seasons go, do you look back on 2018/19 as being a special one as it was the first in the Premier Division and ended with you winning two Surrey Cup Finals?

I don’t really think about seasons just about performances from game to game. But yes, following the promotion in 2018 to win the Surrey Saturday Premier Cup with Lingfield in 2019 and to follow that up with a win in the Sunday Lower Junior Cup with Dormansland Rockets a few days later was special. The Rockets included some fellow Lingers including current teammates Richie Wetton and David Heaton. I play for Selsdon on Sundays now.

Thank you, Stephen. A player regarded as one of our most reliable performers over the past seasons and a tough right back for any winger to get past, now part of a good back three.