THERE are certain things that can make a player a club legend, and after scoring a 95th-minute winner against fierce rivals Woking, Aldershot Town winger Mikael Ndjoli might have already put himself in that category.

Ndjoli had spells at a number of top clubs during the early stages of his career, playing for the likes of Tottenham, Watford, Brentford, Millwall and Bournemouth. He says his experiences at those clubs were pivotal for his senior career.

“At different clubs, they focussed on different things.

“At Spurs, it was very much tactical and technical work, with Watford I felt like it was a bit more physical, and at Bournemouth, again, physicality and a lot of tactical work. I think each club has its own philosophy, and being at the academies of the clubs I’ve been at, I got a taste of how it was going to be when I reached senior level.

“All of those small things that you practice everyday play a part, because when you move on to senior football you need to be tactically, technically and physically good.

“I was around good players as well, some of which are playing abroad, some that made debuts at 18, 19 years old, so it just shows the talent that I’ve been around from such a young age.

“It gives you confidence as well, because you’re around a bunch of confident boys who all want to do well.”

The 24 year-old also had multiple loan spells in Scotland, with Motherwell and, most notably, Kilmarnock in the 2018-19 season, where the team finished third in the Scottish Premiership.

Ndjoli’s spell at Killie was his first proper experience of senior football, but he said that the transition into the first team environment was one that came naturally.

“As a player, you’re going to adjust your game to what the manager wants from you,” he said.

“I like to express myself via my football, by being skillful and just enjoying it.

“Certain managers have a certain game plan which is very direct, and everyone has a fixed job. For example, you look at Manchester City and everyone has a position to play in, and a skillful player like Phil Foden, you don’t see him overdoing it and he plays his role very well.

“I think that happens naturally when you transition from youth to senior football.

“Youth team football is not just, you do what you want, but you almost get that leeway. Any youth team game I played in, I was just told to express myself, but in senior football, everyone has a role to play, and personally that was the biggest transition for me; being able to play my role in the team and being disciplined, because one mistake can cost you three points.”

During his time at Kilmarnock, Ndjoli had the opportunity to be managed by current Scotland manager Steve Clarke, and says that he feels like it is the best football he’s played.

“Although it was very structured, it was my best football in terms of not only playing my role in the team, but being able to express myself.

“Under different managers, you don’t have a leash around your neck but you have to play your role, because nothing is more important than the team.”

Being at Aldershot Town is the first time Ndjoli has dropped out of the Football League system, after having stints at both Gillingham and Barrow.

He says, like many others, that the physicality has been a noticeable difference.

“It’s been very indifferent, if I’m being honest with you.

“It’s been indifferent in terms of where I started with the club during the relegation battle, to now. I’ve come to a club with a manager that I know really well from my Bournemouth days, he’s told me where he thinks I can help.

“I’ve had a lack of minutes and I’ve been dropping in and out of the squad because of a few knocks due to the league’s physicality.

“It’s the first time where in nearly every game I’ve played in, I’ve had the feel that players are, to a certain extent, almost trying to injure you; it’s a reckless league. But I’ve always been a player where the country and the type of league doesn’t really faze me, and as long as I’m playing, I can get the best out of myself and let the football do the talking.”

Even with the departure of the team’s top scorer Corie Andrews, whose loan spell expired in January, there is still a lot of competition in the attacking positions, and Ndjoli says that this is the case at every team.

“Once you’re at senior level, and even at under-23s or under-18s level, everyone wants to start football games.

“I think that the competition we have at Aldershot Town is healthy, because we have a bunch of players that all want to better themselves individually, and as a whole it helps the team.

“We’re starting to win games and becoming a real ruthless side, and the players I’ve met at the club have helped me understand more about the league, and how to get points in certain games.

“It’s also helped me understand the culture of the National League; you have to go into every game with a different game plan.

“The higher up you go, teams are more arrogant and the quality is obviously a lot better, so each team can say, we’ll stick to our game plan, and the best team wins. But in the National League, depending on who you play, strategies, personnel and formation all play a huge part.”

The late winner against Woking is what most would label as the biggest goal of The Shots’ season, and has cemented Ndjoli’s place in Aldershot Town history.

He says that it is the best Aldershot Town memory that he has, and he is still hoping to create more.

“It was massive, everyone knows the magnitude of Woking versus Aldershot,” he said.

“Being able to give that win to the fans and help my team get the three points is a feeling and a memory that I’ll hold dear to me.

“The season’s not over yet, so I’m hoping to create more memories, get on the team sheet and really show the fans what I’m about.

“I feel like they’ve seen glimpses of me, especially when I first came in and the football was getting neater, and then I got a few knocks here and there.

“But what I want from this season is just to create more memories, and let the fans know that they can rely on me and that I’m a player that’s going to take chances. They won’t always come off, but I’m a risk taker, and hopefully they understand me and know that when I’m on the pitch. I’m willing to excite them, create plays and score goals.”

In terms of the future, Ndjoli says that the sky’s the limit.

“I think everyone’s goal is to play in the Premier League, and the end goal would be to do that and play in the national team.

“If your dreams don’t make people laugh, then they’re not big enough. I want to get as many goals as I can, and win trophies.”