WILL Atkinson wants to make his 200th appearance for Southend United one of the most memorable.
The midfielder brings his double century when the Blues visit Maidenhead United on Tuesday night.
The 33-year-old loves to celebrate his Shrimp Landmark in style.
“It will be a special moment for me personally, but I want to look back on it with a win,” Atkinson said.
“It’s something I’ll be proud of and Southend has been a big part of my career and my life as well.
“I lived down here for a few years and it was good.”
Atkinson is currently enjoying his second spell with blues.
But his energy levels show no sign of lengthening and he has enjoyed a recent comparison on social media.
“I saw someone call me Benjamin Button,” Atkinson laughed.
“I was always very fit, of course, but as you get older, you have to take a closer look at yourself.
“I mean, I’ve also adapted my game.
“In the various positions I’m in now, you have to move the game forward and try to get into the right positions so you do not have to do the stupid runes I did before.
“But I’m glad I’m fit and able to enjoy it.
“That’s the main thing.”
Atkinson has become a key member of a Form Shrimp side, starting 14 of the last 15 league games.
However, the midfielder is ready to add many more appearances to his roster.
“People can look at me now as a veteran, but when I have that wealth of experience now, I still have the energy and enthusiasm of a 22-year-old,” Atkinson said.
“It’s the best of both worlds in my opinion and I still feel fit, so I want to add more players.”
However, Atkinson does not look too far ahead and keeps his focus on tonight’s match with Maidenhead.
“We are confident we can get a result there,” Atkinson said.
“We are also looking forward to the game.”
The Blues will also go into high gear in the clash after beating Altrincham 2-0 last time.
The victory came just four days after the Shrimps saw their 13 games unbeaten run by Dagenham & Redbridge.
And Atkinson was pleased with the response from the side “It was very good”, said the midfielder, who won promotion with Blues during his first spell at Roots Hall.
“After Tuesday’s disappointment with both the performance and the result, the main goal was to come back and get the three points.
“The first half was pretty even, but then we had both goals and the second half it was pretty comfortable.
“It was a professional performance in the end and that’s what we needed.
“We had an incredible run and the test was always when we had a loser.
“It was inevitable that we would lose at some point and it was about how we withdrew.
“We have done well, which is positive and we are now looking at it together again.”
Blues have now only been beaten once in 15 league games and the optimistic mood is in stark contrast to how Atkinson decided to return to Roots Hall in August.
“When I first came back, it was a hard place to be and there was a lot of negativity around,” Atkinson said.
“But the group we have turned that around and now it’s a positive place to be again.
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