Naik calls for 'cup final' mentality

Long-serving midfielder James Naik, has called on his team-mates to treat the next two to three matches as "cup-finals" in order to finish the season and his own We Hate Ben career on a high. Naik 25, is the last remaining player who helped to found the club back in 2006, having now played for or managed the club in all six Aberystwyth Digs League seasons it has competed in.

Naik expects the side to show at least "110% commitment" in the final league match against Balls Deep and the Consolation Cup quarter-final and possible semi-final (and final) - a trophy he won as a player and manager back in 2009 and the only trophy the club has won to date.

Naik said, "This season has been one of the more difficult for me, as I have not as played as much as I would have liked, but being part of this team means more to me than playing every match. Winning our final league match would probably secure our second-highest league finish, while reaching the Consolation Cup final would extend my time at the club, and if I do decide to leave it will give me the chance to finish on a high." Naik also went on to say that "Chris Webster, Stuart Fleming and Danny Shaw were players I personally signed for the club and they deserve to finish their time at the club the way they started it- by winning a trophy."

Naik also said "Winning the first Consolation Cup wasn't as prestigious as it is now, as it is now an eight-team competition that all participating teams will want to win. It wasn't a big deal for us winning it three years ago, but some of the teams we could face are very good and will be agonising over failing to reach the Trophy, Plate or Champions Cup." Naik continued "...any success in any competition will breed confidence and give the players remaining next season the experience of winning something, and that will put them in good stead for the rest of their time with We Hate Ben."