Tom Jackson | Stamford AFC

Stamford's number one Tom Jackson has been a huge success in goal for the Lincolnshire side. He joined from North Ferriby last June, and has kept 14 clean sheets this season. The second most of any goalkeeper in the division, behind Banbury United's Jack Harding, who has 16.

📷 Stamford AFC

The 29 year old is the only Stamford player who has featured in every league game this season. The former Gainsborough Trinity and Cleethorpes Town keeper, has the fifth lowest goals conceded per game ratio, and has enjoyed a lot of success in the first half of matches. Just 17 of the 43 goals that Jackson has let in have come in the first 45.

Managed by experienced Stamford boss Graham Drury, who has been in charge of the club for almost a decade. Jackson is in safe hands, and has lauded his coach for the work put into the team in the hunt for promotion to step 2. I spoke with The Daniels number one to gather his thoughts on his first season at the club.

"I have really enjoyed the season so far. From a personal note, it has been a season full of positives. The main one being that I have been able to feature in every game and contribute to every minute that the side have graced the pitch. As a team, we have navigated our way through the season to the point where we can achieve the goal that we set out to complete.

"As soon as I joined in the off season, I felt that I fitted in straight away. We have a fantastic dressing room here, which has resulted in it being a very close knit club. The players, staff, board, fans and volunteers are all a huge factor in the really positive atmosphere which helped me fit in from day one to now.

"Our high clean sheet count has not just been because of my own performance, but the team as a whole and the effort everyone has put in on and off the field. A lot of the results we have had this season, came through massive battles on the pitch, and the defensive effort from the front. Some games have not been pretty I can admit, but they are the type of games and wins I enjoy the most to be honest. There is no better feeling after a result than when you win 1-0, home or away."

I also spoke with Jackson about his most prominent defender Jordon Cooke, boss Graham Drury, goalkeeper coach Mike Hogg, and the sides aspirations going forward. "Cookey has been huge for us this season. We are very close, because not only have we played together here, but also at a previous club. The experience we have on the pitch together has reflected with the solid understanding we have as a pair on the pitch.

"His ability to read the game and win defensive duals makes my life so much easier as a goalkeeper, and I can not thank him and the other players in the back four enough. I was delighted for him when he was able to get the monkey off his back last week by scoring his first of the season late on for the equaliser against Kettering. I hope he will be able to chip in with a couple more before the end of the season.

"Hoggy has been a massive part of my personal development this season as well. Top quality keeper coaches like him are few and far between at this level, but he is right up there. He works us keepers so hard off the pitch, but it pays, as he has had a massive impact on my performances during a match. Graham has also had a big impact since I joined. I learn a lot from him, and he helps all of us understand what he wants us to do so the team can get the best possible results.

"As a team, we have put ourselves in a great position as we enter the final month. We are right in the mix for the play-offs, and still have a mathematical possibility to finish at the top. The sides around us in the table are full of quality, make no mistake about that, but we have the confidence in our squad right now to be there until the end. The table seems to change every week, so we just have to focus on getting a positive result out of each game as it comes to finish as high as possible.

"Looking ahead, the final game against Halesowen will be a big one. It will be a well supported occasion from both sides. So I am excited for the atmosphere that will be brought on the day. I know the Stamford fans in particular will turn out in their numbers and be behind us all, just like they have all year. Their support has been incredible. We have shared some great celebrations with them after some huge wins. Our job as a team is to give them a few more moments to shout about come the end of the season."

Stamford's Season In Numbers

1️⃣4️⃣ | Only Banbury United (16), and Stratford Town (15) have won more clean sheets in the league than Stamford's 14. A big factor in that, is no other side in the league have won more away clean sheets that The Daniels eight.

2️⃣5️⃣ | Stamford have scored first in 65% (25/38) of their matches in the league, no other side can boast a higher percentage of games than that. In contrast, they also lead the way for conceding first the fewest times, with 34% (13/38).

1️⃣7️⃣ | Only Stourbridge (14), Harborough Town and Banbury United (16), have conceded fewer goals in the first half of league matches than Stamford, who have let in just 17 goals.

3️⃣ | No other side in the league have conceded fewer times in the 15 minute period plus stoppage time period before half-time than Stamford, who have let in just three goals.