Millom

FOR someone who has racked up more than 600 goals during his playing career, Carl Waters is incredibly modest about his achievements.
The veteran Millom striker is still terrorising defences in the West Lancashire League Division Two, having already found the net 35 times in 22 games across all competitions so far in the 2016/17 season.
A hat-trick in last Saturday’s 5-2 victory in the derby at Furness Cavaliers saw Waters take his career tally to 603 goals in just over 650 appearances, with more than 430 of those coming in a Millom shirt.
Such is his prowess in front of goal that the last season saw him pass Brian Moore’s record of 389 for the club, which was acknowledged when Waters was presented with a special award by the previous holder at the end-of-season awards night.
But while he appreciates having his efforts recognised, Waters is quick to share the adulation among his current team-mates and those he has played with down the years.
“I feel a bit embarrassed when I get the headlines sometimes because I think ‘I haven’t played that well today, but I’ve got two or three goals’, and there are some lads who have had a great game in midfield or defence who hardly get a mention,” said Waters.
“I’ve got a lot of good players behind me who give me plenty of chances, so as long as you know to make your runs on the back of that you’re always going to get chances, and the more chances you get, the more you are going to score.
“That’s probably how I’ve got a lot of goals in the past because my movement has always been pretty good, but I’ve also had some good lads behind me.
“I think it’s a bit unfair sometimes as a striker, because you always hog the headlines and it doesn’t really say about the lads behind you who have done all the hard work getting you the chances.”
Waters is grateful he is still able to keep playing as well, with an achilles injury sustained in the first game of the 2009/10 season threatening to end his playing days after being forced to spend 12 months on the sidelines. But while it was a long road back, it did not take long for Waters to rediscover his goal-scoring form, and passing Moore’s record in particular was a proud moment for him.
“I was out for over a year and it was pretty hard to come back, to be honest, not playing for a year, but I got back to it,” said Waters. “I haven’t got much pace any more, but it’s nice to get out there and play football, to be honest.
“It’s obviously a nice achievement. I always watched Brian as a kid and I’ve always had big respect for him, so it was nice to pass his record.
“The 600, I didn’t think I’d get to that after I snapped my achilles a couple of years ago, so it’s nice just still to be playing. It keeps me from shopping on Saturday with the missus anyway!”
Having enjoyed a career which has also taken in spells with Haverigg United, Holker Old Boys, Barrow AFC – where he got to play against his beloved Oldham Athletic at Boundary Park in the FA Cup in 2001 – and Lancaster City, Waters has no plans to hang up his boots just yet.
When he does, there is no doubt he will stay involved. He has already taken a place on the club’s committee and coaches the thriving under-10s team, continuing a family association which goes back to his grandfather, Ken, being one of the founder members of Millom AFC in 1963.
For now though, Waters is savouring riding high in the second division of the West Lancs League, along with being just one win away from a place in the Furness Senior Cup final.
“I’m enjoying it this year,” said Waters. “We’re doing quite well; we’ve only lost twice in the league, we’ve got a good set of young lads in the club now, but we probably should have a few more points.
“We’ve drawn some daft games, but we’ve only lost twice and into the semi-finals of the Furness Senior Cup, so hopefully we can get to that final, maybe win it and push up in the league.
“Hopefully I’ll play a couple more years, you never know. As long as I keep myself injury-free, I’ll play for as long as I can. A lot of players who have retired say ‘don’t retire unless you have to’, because you are a long time retired.”