I almost quit!
By Matt Pitman

Friday 4th November 2005

STEVE Tully nearly quit football three years ago - now he is preparing for an FA Cup showdown at Nottingham Forest.

The defender was on the verge of hanging up his boots just months after joining Weymouth from Torquay United in 2002.

But Tully, who rejoined the Terras in the summer after a short stint at Exeter City, continued playing and is now reaping the rewards.

He told Echosport: "Games like Nottingham Forest away make all the bad times worthwhile.

"I'm one of the longer serving players at the club, with the spell at Exeter last season aside, and there's certainly been a few ups and downs over the years.

"I nearly packed in football when I first joined Weymouth so it has certainly been a turnaround.

"I wasn't enjoy playing under the then manager Geoff Butler, who signed me, and getting used to part-time training was difficult.

"But I decided to stick it out and I'm glad I did because a lot has happened since, the vast majority for the better.

"The club has come a long way and now, under Garry Hill, we seem to be going places.

"Being a full-time footballer again is fantastic, the daily training really helps you develop and build an understanding with the team.

"Now we're about to play at the City Ground, which is a fantastic occasion, and it's a day I'm determined to enjoy."

Surprise

Tully left the Wessex Stadium under a cloud last season when he, and team-mate and pal Lee Phillips, joined Exeter City on free transfers. But the defender soon rejoined Weymouth in the summer following the arrival of Hill.

"It's old ground to me now but things just didn't work out under the then manager Steve Johnson," said Tully.

"It was clear myself and Lee Phillips were never going to be part of his plans so being released on a free transfer wasn't a surprise.

"But once Johnson left and Garry Hill was appointed, I wanted to return because I enjoy it at Weymouth and I knew Garry could take us forward."

Meanwhile midfielder Andy Harris says he is relishing playing regular football again after an injury-hit spell at previous club Chester City.

"Things didn't work out well for me at Chester but I'm enjoying life again and can't wait to play at Forest," he said.

"It was a big decision moving my family down here from the north west but it has worked out really well.

"People wonder why I dropped to a second tier non-League club but I didn't have any negative thoughts about the move.

"The facilities at Weymouth like the training ground and stadium are better than many in the Football League and I'm certain this club is on the way up."