Former AFC Bournemouth Academy goalkeeper Cam Plain has made an excellent start to the season with his new club Poole Town, becoming a fan favourite.
The 23-year-old played in the Cherries academy last season and earned a first-team call-up after being named on the bench for the Carabao Cup defeat by Liverpool.
But Plain signed for the Dolphins in the summer, dropping down into non-league in the process, and quickly became the club’s first-choice stopper.
Fresh off the back of regular game time, Plain has relished his first few months at the BlackGold Stadium.
“I’ve really enjoyed playing games, I just love to play week in, week out,” he told Buzz News.
Plain has quickly adapted to life on a lower rung of the football ladder, keeping three clean sheets and making several eye-catching saves to keep the Dolphins’ play-off push on track.
“I feel at academy football it’s a lot more about playing the right football at times over the result itself,” he added.
“At Poole, the results are the most important thing. Nobody really cares how you play as long as you get 3 points at the end of it.”
Plain believes Poole should now be challenging for the play-offs and ultimately, promotion.
He said: “With the players we’ve got at this level I don’t see why the aim shouldn’t be promotion.
“As much as I’ve enjoyed playing so far this season my aim is now to climb back up the football ladder.”
Plain also holds lofty personal ambitions, admitting: “I’ve got aspirations to get back in the Football League.”
Poole currently sit eighth in the table and are level on points with Sholing, who they face tomorrow away from home.
Earlier in the week, the Dolphins suffered last-gasp penalty heartbreak after their former goalkeeper Luke Cairney scored from the spot for Winchester City in a 1-1 draw.
Plain saved the penalty initially but the goal was controversially given after the ball rolled over the line.