"I felt the shirt was mine to lose!" George Willis eyes regular game time after leaving Boston United

Former skipper plans to be number one at league rivals Alfreton Town...
George Willis.George Willis.
George Willis.

George Willis is looking for a fresh start and regular game time at Alfreton Town, admitting his lack of action with Boston United last season came as a 'shock'.

Twenty-five-year-old Willis was the Pilgrims' captain and Player of the Year in the 2018-19 campaign, but the arrival of stopper Peter Crook saw him reduced to just one start and two further appearances off the bench in county cup competitions last season.

"I've got to be honest, last season came as a shock when I wasn't playing," he told the Derbyshire Times.

"I felt, after the season I'd had before, winning the Player of the Year award and everything like that, I had a good progressive season and got better as the season went along.

"I felt deep down I deserved at least to start the season and the shirt was mine to lose.

"That wasn't the case and that's football. You have to respect those decisions, but to never get the chance last year was hard for me.

"To get a fresh start somewhere was a no brainer. That got sorted, so happy days really."

Willis - who had two loan spells with former club Gainsborough Trinity last season - is now looking forward to his fresh start under Reds boss Billy Heath.

"I'm really delighted and the fact I've got it done quickly shows what the move means to me and to Bill," he said.

"We were speaking for a couple of weeks and it got sorted straight away. He made it clear he wanted me and I made it clear I wanted to stay in this league and play as high as I can, and as well as I can, for Alfreton. It was a no-brainer."

"(Playing for Trinity last season) was important, for my state of mind, as much as anything.

"I'm not the sort of person who can happily sit about and play second fiddle.

"I've had spells at clubs where I've had to fight for my place. I've done that before and I'm the type of person who gets my head down and work hard. But last year I felt there was never a way in."