Maldon & Tiptree 'could be EFL club' - Bonne

Macaulay Bonne began his career at Colchester United

Experienced striker Macaulay Bonne believes Maldon & Tiptree could be pushing for a place in the English Football League in a "few years".

The 30-year-old, whose former clubs include Leyton Orient, Charlton and Ipswich Town, dropped three levels to join the Jammers in October.

They are a club transformed since being taken over by the Drewitt-Barlow Organisation, with other former EFL players including Freddie Sears and Anthony Wadsworth also joining, and attendances for home games well up.

"Even if the club only makes it to the National League it's a massive, massive success - I might be retired by then but give it a few years [and] I can see it being a Football League club," Bonne told BBC Essex.

Bonne headed the first goal in a 3-0 win over Brentwood Town in the Essex Senior Cup on Tuesday evening, having been out of football for several months after leaving Southend United at the end of last season.

He played at Wembley when the Shrimpers lost the National League play-off final against Oldham Athletic in May and said he felt like a "ghost" when he was not offered a new contract and had to wait to find another club.

"There was a bit of a question mark (in my mind) about coming here - it was more about what other people would think about me dropping this low," Bonne said.

"At the end of the day, playing football is what makes me happy and no matter what league I'm playing in, as long as I'm on the pitch kicking a ball around, I've got a smile on my face - and that's what matters.

"I really enjoyed my time at Southend. I wanted another promotion under my belt but the club wanted to go in another direction and you have to take things on the chin and move on."

Maldon & Tiptree are currently third in Isthmian League North Division, step eight in the English football pyramid, and Bonne believes they have yet to see the best of him.

"I'm nowhere near fully fit yet, I'm still getting into my stride - I'd probably say I'm running at about 60%," he added.

"I've got over 100 career goals, and if I'm in the right team, I will score. I'm nowhere near done, I've got plenty in the tank."