This Saturday we pay tribute to Tonbridge Angels' most loyal servant of recent years, Tom Parkinson, at his testimonial. It's 11 years since he signed as a 23-year-old from Leatherhead, in which time he's also put in many years of excellent work with the academy and three years as assistant manager. We gather for one last match this season at the Halcyon Wealth Longmead Stadium as a Tonbridge All Stars XI managed by club chaplain Neil Durling takes on a Parky XI jointly managed by Parky senior, Steve Parkinson and Lloyd Blackman.

Parky reflected this week with Matt Davison: "When people see there's a testimonial they think you just gather a few players together and play a game, but there's quite a lot to do. Shaz at the club has been brilliant, and what's been nice is getting in touch with so many ex-players. Even if they can't make it it's been nice to have a chat with them. Over the 11 years I haven't really played with anyone who you'd class as a bad egg so I'm really looking forward to it.

"We've got the likes of Jerrome Sobers and Folkesy coming from the first year; Joe Turner, who'll be playing his last game in English football for a while before he moves to Dubai; Jack Parter, who was brilliant over the years. We've got a couple of local lads, Tommy Whitnell and Luke Blewden, who the fans really took to, and some of the players from this year, like Ronny Nelson and Harry Ottaway, and Ronnie Vint, who's been on Love Island twice, but quite a few others who I'm really looking forward to playing with.

"I only played under two managers at Tonbridge. Most of us are a bit older now and it'll be interesting to see if we can still run around and kick a ball properly! But I'm looking forward to seeing everyone and having a beer afterwards with them all."

After Parky's departure to be part of Jay Saunders' management team at Folkestone Invicta he didn't get a chance to say a proper goodbye, and he told us Tonbridge will still be in his heart for many years to come: "I've enjoyed my time at the club and I'm fortunate to still be involved in the academy next year. It'll be strange not to come down to Tonbridge on a matchday, but I'm glad I'm involved in some capacity. I'm also looking forward to seeing the fans again and have a proper goodbye, but I hope one day to come back to Tonbridge and be involved again."

It's rare, in these times, for any player to be at any club for 11 years, and it wasn't in Parky's thoughts at all when he signed in 2014: "When I signed I took the opportunity to jump up a level and prove to myself I could play that level. Steve gave me the opportunity and I fell in love with the club. I've had offers to leave down the years but I love it and my family loved it too, so it never really crossed my mind to leave. Obviously circumstances this year meant as a management team we felt we'd taken the club as far as we can and it needed a fresh impetus. I was gutted to leave but I never thought I'd last 11 years, something you don't see in modern day football.

"Even when I was 17 I took coaching seriously and it's always something I wanted to do. I was grateful to be given the opportunity by Jay to see the other side of it. I'd have liked my playing career to last a bit longer, injuries were a factor in that. I'm still learning and I hope I'm becoming a better coach by the year. Whether I want to actually be a manager in the long run I'm not sure, but I do really enjoy it."

Summing up his time on the coaching staff, he's very proud of what he, Jay and Lloyd Blackman achieved.  He said:  "We wanted to make the club a respected National South club and I think we are now. First year I don't think we thought we would do as well as we did, and to finish ninth with 70 points was fantastic. This year we left when we were in tenth, but the aim was to make us into a club that wasn't fighting relegation and skipped onto the fringes of play-offs and I'd like to think we did that."

And as a player?  "I think the year we won the play-offs was one of my favourite years. I was injured but it's still special. I enjoyed every year though. First year was tough with Macca building a new team and then second year we made the play-offs, that was a good achievement. From a playing point of view I think that second season was my best season, then I started getting injuries, but the super play off final year, that was the most enjoyable season."

Admission prices for the game are: Adult £10 and Youths £5 with a booking fee and can be purchased HERE or card or cash on the turnstile

A list of the players turning out and the events that will follow the game can be read HERE