GOALKEEPER Kevin Sawyer insists promotion in his swansong season at Evesham United “would be up there with any past achievements” from his illustrious 20-year career.

The 37-year-old will hang up his gloves at the end of the campaign to focus on helping his three children to realise their own footballing dreams.

Sawyer remains in the hearts of supporters at many of his former clubs and represented Salisbury City in an FA Cup first round proper tie at Sheffield Wednesday in 2003.

He went on to win promotion from the Southern League with the Whites, a feat he later repeated against the odds with nomadic club Gloucester City.

Now he seeks a hat-trick with the Robins before calling time on his stint between the sticks to help his three children – England goalkeeping prospect Emily, 13, stopper Joshua, nine, and outfield player Joseph, 15 – to pursue their own paths in the beautiful game.

“It would mean a lot to see it through,” said Sawyer. “When I first signed for Evesham I joked with Colly (manager Paul Collicutt) about getting the club promoted because I had done it twice before.

“Doing it for the manager and the supporters would be big. We get a minibus full every away game, even on Tuesdays they always go with more on the train.

“The support we get down at Evesham is unbelievable and it would be up there with any past achievements.

“In an ideal world it would be nice for us and Salisbury to go up in my last year but there is a little gap now and with the form as it is at the moment, I cannot see anyone catching Taunton.

"Second place is up for grabs. A lot has been said about our home form but we are confident in the changing room. I believe in the team and the squad that we have that we will reach the play-offs. If we can finish second, even better.

“There is a belief throughout the club that we are good enough and that it will click. There is no panic in the changing room whatsoever.”

The flurry of good wishes since his retirement got announced has been an “overwhelming” experience for Sawyer but one he has taken great heart from.

“I am not on social media. When people told me about the things that had been posted, I read it and was very touched. It took me by surprise and I cannot thank everyone enough,” he added.

“It went mad for 24 hours with text messages and everything else. I would like to think I have always given my best wherever I have played and it is nice to be well thought of.

“I have tried to sit back and take it all in. Even ex-players and fans of other teams have got involved, it is quite overwhelming."

Reminiscing about his highlights, Sawyer said: “It was always a dream to play in the first round of the FA Cup and I was privileged to do that.

“Sheffield Wednesday was the big club at that level at the time. I remember winning our final qualifying game and running up to the bar at Salisbury to watch the draw.

“The Gloucester promotion was right up there, if not above the FA Cup run to be honest. We were not favourites, we were ground sharing at Cirencester and no one expected us to go up.”