BUNGAY'S veteran defender Craig Hunting was honoured on Saturday as he
became the club's all-time record appearance maker.
Before his 558th outing players and officials gathered on the pitch to see
him receive a carved wooden plaque noting his achievement, presented to him
by Graeme Jolly - the man whose record Hunting has now taken.
The 36-year-old, who was captain for the day, led the side to a 2-1 win over
Thetford Rovers to put the icing on the cake, and he said afterwards:
"Bungay is where I have always wanted to play, the club I have played for
since a boy and the club I love. This is a proud moment for me, but if it
was not for managers picking me to play I would not have achieved it!"
Asked if he would try to push on towards 600 games, he said: "I don' know
about that - I'll just take each game as it comes."
His early games for the club were when Jolly was still playing as a veteran,
and he quipped: "He used to make us young ones sit on his knee in the bus!
But it is good to receive this award from a block who is a real club
legend."
Jolly said: "It has been good to hold this record for 16-17 years, but
finally it is good to hand it on to someone like Craig, who I respect. I was
being greedy holding both club records."
That referred to the fact that he is still also the club's all-time leading
scorer, having hit 238 goals in his career. And he is likely to hang on to
that accolade for some years yet. Of the current squad, Dom Mirner has the
best aggregate with 74 goals.
Hunting made his debut as a 15-year-old in 1998 when he came on as a
substitute in a Wenhaston Charity Cup game against Wenhaston, at Wenhaston
on May 8th. Bungay lost the game on penalties after extra time.
Apart from a spell at Hempnall he has been a fixture in the side for most of
the 21st century, serving as captain for several seasons, and leading by
example. Despite now being at the veteran stage, he has missed only one of
the 21 games so far this season, and in his career he has scored 33 goals.
He had been a true servant to Bungay Town, and Saturday's award from the
club salutes his loyalty and long service.