Matt Loaring: Guernsey FC stalwart 'getting better and better'

Matt Loaring made his Guernsey FC debut in August 2011

Guernsey FC boss Tony Vance has hailed the longevity of Matt Loaring.

The 32-year-old is one of the few members of the squad to have been with Guernsey FC since it was founded in 2011 and equalled the club record of 369 appearances on Saturday.

He has scored four times in 14 games this season for the Green Lions and has provided experience to a young squad.

"He's fantastic. He's getting better and better actually," Vance said to BBC Radio Guernsey.

"Often over the years we've had to reinvent ourselves, we've had to turn the pages a few times and start again.

"We've had to play certain ways because of the situation we've got, and every time Matt adapts his game.

"The bit I really like about Matt is a couple of years ago he wasn't at his best form and most people can throw the towel in, but not him, he came back lost a stone in weight - and he's not a big bloke - and came back fighting and was phenomenal really."

He is part of a side who despite good performances have struggled to get results - they are second from bottom of Isthmian League South Central having won just twice in 17 games.

Loaring's total of 369 appearances ties him with club captain Jamie Dodd, who too has been part of the Guernsey FC set up since its foundation.

"We're both up there and have been there since the start, so it's pleasing to keep going," said Loaring, who had trials with Watford, Leeds United and Grimsby Town as a teenager.

"I think we've got a good mix of experienced players and youth coming in.

"If you look at our results over the last five, six, seven games, we haven't really lost many.

"We've drawn a few, we got our win last week which was great.

"But I really feel like we're going to start kicking on, and actually our good run of performances has come against some of the top sides, so I think it's pleasing, I think we're going to turn the corner at some point."