BROMSGROVE SPORTING sharpshooter Sean Brain is hopeful that his impressive goalscoring tally this season can fire the Rouslers towards promotion, writes Liam Hunt.
The 20-year-old joined Sporting back in September 2014, winning man-of-the-match and scoring on his debut against Alvis Sporting Club, and since then has blossomed over the past two seasons and finds himself as the club’s leading goal scorer this campaign with 19 goals.
The striker has bagged some vital goals for his side this season including the opener in the 4-2 victory over promotion rivals Coventry United last month, the only goal of the game at Pershore Town on Easter Monday and the goal that put the Rouslers 2-1 ahead against Coventry Copsewood last Saturday.
Talking to the Standard, Brain said he hopes his fruitful goal return can continue in the remaining games of the Midland League Division One campaign.
“I’m one of the youngest in the squad so to be the top goal scorer so far is a great achievement,” he said.
“I’m a striker so I’m in the team to score goals, it’s what I do.
“I aimed for 25 at the start of the season and I’m only six away from that target so hopefully I can get a few more.
“Out of all the goals I have scored for Sporting, there’s one that stands out the most and it was the goal that put us 1-0 up against Coventry United. It was a massive goal.”
Hot-shot Brain has equalled his goal tally for last season and with Rouslers legend Chris Conway’s current record of 61 goals in his sights, he believes it’s all down to the hard work he has done on his all-round game.
“I’ve improved quite a lot as a player from last season, I’ve been working hard on my runs to improve them on and off the ball,” Brain said.
“Last season was my first proper season in football where I was getting chances and at times I tried to be a bit greedy.
“This season I’ve tried to link up and bring other players into the game, that has been a big improvement.
Brain was part of the Sporting squad that narrowly missed out on promotion last year, finishing just three points behind champions Highgate United.
With five league games left to play this season, the Rouslers find themselves in a battle for promotion with fellow high-flyers Coventry United and Nuneaton Griff who sit second and third respectively in the table and Brain said clinching promotion would be a huge achievement.
On Saturday, the Rouslers head to mid-table Racing Club Warwick.
“Securing promotion this season would mean everything to the club,” he said.
“Climbing the leagues and getting Bromsgrove back to where they belong would mean an awful lot to a club of this size. It doesn’t matter if we win games 1-0 or 5-0, it’s the three points that are most important.”
Brain also stressed that if Sporting to are enjoy success in years to come, the current crop of players under the wing of manager Paul Smith need to remain at the club, including himself.
“Keeping this squad together is very important as we would be able to cope in the league above,” he said.
“A lot of our players have played in higher leagues and we have plenty of others with the potential to become better players.”
“At the moment I’m still going to be a Bromsgrove Sporting player next season,” he said.
“If Sporting were to get promoted there is now way I’d leave.
“Paul Smith is a very good manager and I get on really well with him. He’s fair, very easy to get on with and he looks after the whole team.
“He always want you to do well for yourself as well as for him and the club.”
