Wednesday 15 February 2012

TWINTERVIEW: Jon Main

I have some bad news for defenders. Jon Main is back.

Now 30, the striker has scored goals wherever he's been: Cray Wanderers, Tonbridge Angels and AFC Wimbledon. Having broken the Conference South scoring record for the Dons in 2008/09, Main was part of the squad which won promotion to the Football League last season, although he was then released by manager Terry Brown.

Loan spells at Dartford and Dover Athletic brought Main onto my Kent sporting radar and his summer return to Tonbridge was big news for the club and the paper. Hailed as a returning hero, Main's arrival back at Longmead was a real coup by manager Tommy Warrilow following the Angels' promotion out of the Ryman League. However, the fairytale homecoming didn;t exactly follow the script as Main was struck down by a knee injury which kept him sidelined for months. After scans and rehab work, though, he's edging closer to full fitness - and the prospect of an explosive strike partnership with the division's leading marksman, Frannie Collin.

We caught up last Wednesday, three days before Main came off the bench to mark his return to the Angels squad with a goal in their 3-0 win over Weston-super-Mare.


What were your first pair of boots?



Mitre, cheap ones from Woolworths!! Cheers dad. Ha



Would you take Paul Scholes to Euro 2012?



Yes, 100 per cent.



Let's hope the new boss can convince him then. You trained last night [Tuesday] - how was it? Big step on the road to recovery?


Yes, trained the last four times and have been getting fitter each time. Knee feels good.



Excellent. Whose results do you look out for on a Saturday evening, and in what order?



Liverpool, Wimbledon, all Conference South teams, then Gillingham (Kedwell).



Talking of Wimbledon, what have you made of their season?



I've seen them a few times this season and they play some proper football down there but not get the results they need. They will be fine.


If one of your team-mates 'did a Carlos Tevez', would you welcome them back if it helped you win the league?


Yes, if he apologised and played his heart out then yes, no problem.



Who are your best friends in football?



Have a few. Danny Kedwell, Luke Moore, Luke Garrard, Ben Judge, Elliot Godfrey, Alan Inns, John Beales I still talk to regularly.


They say you should 'never go back' but you're one of several to buck the trend at Tonbridge. What is the great pull at Longmead?


The club is run properly, some very good people down there, the fans are great to the players and the management isn't bad either! Ha


Ah yes, the gaffer. Tell us something we might not know about Tommy Warrilow.



Stiffest man ever!! Ha na, he's been brilliant with me to be honest.



What's your earliest memory of football?



Scoring lots of goals, even from corners!! In my Mitres! Ha



Who's getting promoted from Conference South this season?



Woking have been the best I've seen so I'll go with them.



Right answer (that's my club). And through the play-offs?



Welling.



What music gets played before Angels games and who's the changing-room DJ?



It's not the best to be honest, our resident DJ has now left. Some of the boys' music taste is poor, dark rapping crap. Think I'll take over now that I'm back playing. Get some rocky songs going.

Do it. What team should England pick for their first game at Euro 2012?



Hart, Johnson, Cahill, Jagielka, Cole, Parker sitting, Gerrard on right, Downing on left, Wilshere in hole of a diamond, Defoe, Carroll (until Rooney).


What are your footballing hopes for the year ahead?



Right now just to play consecutive games. The last months have been a killer.



You can follow @mainy10 on Twitter

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