After coming to us from Forest Green Rovers, right-sided defender Simon Travis became a firm fans’ favourite with a series of committed displays. Signed at the end of the 2002-3 season, the player took on the right back role with supreme confidence; proving his worth both at the back and going forward. But he came into a side that started to struggle in the league. Soon, the boss who brought him in – Wayne Turner – would be gone.

In came GW, bringing seven lads with him from Farnborough. One of them, unfortunately for Trav, was Michael Warner; a right back with eyes on a role that was maybe one of the only parts of Turner’s side that didn’t need attention. As a result, Travis could be found at left back or in right midfield on occasion. No matter where he played, however, you’d rely on him to put in a decent shift.

But, as the 2003-4 season wore on, it looked as if Travis was falling out of favour with GW. His last game for us was a 1-0 home defeat against Telford United in February 2004. That summer, he left Boro’ for pastures new. Literally. He went to Hereford United. And now we ask ourselves one question. If he’d stayed both with us and as our number one right back, would he have taken *that* chance in the 2005 playoff final?

Simon Travis: After Boro’

A year into his time with the Bulls, Travis had to contend with a double blow. First, losing in the playoffs to his former club (that’s us, by the way). And then he suffered a serious injury on international duty with England C. But he came back strong the following season; doing his bit as the Bulls won promotion to the Football League via the playoffs. He still saw a lot of action in the 2006-7 campaign – but nearly ended up on loan at Stockport too.

Leaving the Bulls in summer 2007, Trav returned to non-league football; turning out first at Nuneaton Borough and then Solihull Moors. Leamington and Brackley Town are two more stopping points on his career path before, we guess, the time came to retire.