Badman eager to put troubles behind him

9:00pm Wednesday 23rd April 2008

Comments (0)   Have your say »

Mark Badman has exorcised one ghost and now he is determined to put his play-off heartbreak to bed.

The Chippenham Town midfielder battled against a gambling addiction last season and eventually checked himself into the Sporting Chance Clinic in Hampshire last March.

Following his first year away from the bookies the midfielder is desperate to clinch promotion with the Bluebirds.

They visit Halesowen on Tuesday in the Southern League Premier Division semi final on Tuesday and Badman is eager to erase the memories of the 2005 and 2006 play-off defeats.

"The last two times we have been disappointed but this season we done well to get where we are," he said.

"But this year is our best chance, not just because our team is the best we have ever had, but because it is so open."

And he praised the club, fans and manager Adie Mings for helping him through the past year.

"Adie is always there if I have had a problem and he will help me with it," said the 28-year-old.

"What you need from a manager is understanding and at a lot of clubs you don't get that."

For an exclusive interview with Badman, charting his first year out of rehab and his hopes for the future read tomorrow's Gazette & Herald.