Wimborne Town legend Arnold equals club appearance record in title-winning game

Wimborne Town skipper Scott Arnold helped pilot the club to league title glory in a club record-equalling appearance.

Tim Sills’s Magpies lifted the Southern League Division One South title after a 3-1 win at Melksham Town – the finale of Arnold’s 18^th season with the club.

He came off the bench for the New Cuthbury side on his 616^th club appearance – equalling the club record for individual appearances.

It was a special occasion for the stalwart defender, whose side eventually won the league by four points over runners-up Frome Town.

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“This means the world to me,” he told the league website.

“I’ve spent 18 years at a club which has always been in the mix for titles but never actually won one, so to win it on the same day as equalling the club’s appearance record is what dreams are made of.

“You couldn’t have written the script any better! We went into the game under a lot of pressure. This was our third attempt at winning it after failing to get the results we needed in our previous two games, but everything worked out in the end!

“To lift the trophy in front of over 1,000 Wimborne fans is something that I will never forget.

“It’s not been the greatest of seasons for me personally, if I am being honest. I’ve been out of the side more than I’ve been in it, but we have an unbelievably strong squad and I am proud that I have been able to come in and do a job when required.

“This team has been relentless. The boys have turned up week in, week out and just worked their socks off. There’s not been too much moaning even though I can probably count on one hand the number of training sessions we’ve had when it hasn’t been lashing down with rain!

“It’s been a hard slog, but stuff like this gives you the attitude to not give in and it has certainly stood us in good stead because we’ve been pushed all the way by a strong Frome Town side.

“So many of our games have been won late on or turned on their head with us coming from behind, including Saturday’s, because of the never-say-die attitude and determination that exists within the group.

“I am really proud with what we have achieved this season.”