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Dartford FC striker Alfie Pavey a man in demand this summer

Alfie Pavey knows he won't be short of options this summer after a successful season with Dartford.

Pavey scored 26 goals in all competitions and was voted National League South player-of-the-year.

But he missed out on promotion after the Darts lost 1-0 at home to Braintree in the play-off semi-finals.

Alfie Pavey up against Braintree captain Marc-Anthony Okoye in the play-off semi-final Picture: Steve Crispe
Alfie Pavey up against Braintree captain Marc-Anthony Okoye in the play-off semi-final Picture: Steve Crispe

Released by Millwall last summer, Pavey's worked hard to enhance his reputation and is now a man in demand.

There's interest from clubs in the National League and above.

Pavey said: "This time last year, I was panicking and worrying, 'am I going to get a club, where do I go next, I need it to be the right move.'

"Obviously I ended up picking the wrong move, which was Welling, but I got brought back here and showed what I can do.

"Now the ball's in my court and I can relax because, without being big-headed, I know I'm going to get a club.

"No-one's got in touch with me. I let my agent deal with that side of things.

"I'll need to sit down with the manager and see what he wants me to do because I don't know who's going to be here next year as it is.

"I don't know what the club's plans are. Are they going full-time or are they just training two evenings?

"My contract is up so we'll just have to wait and see."

Only East Thurrock's Sam Higgins (24) scored more league goals than Pavey this season.

He became a fans favourite at Princes Park and won four awards at Dartford's end-of-season presentation night.

Alfie Pavey goes close with a header against Braintree Picture: Steve Crispe
Alfie Pavey goes close with a header against Braintree Picture: Steve Crispe

Pavey said: "To pick up that National League South award tops everything for me. I'm competing with about 400 players to win it.

"To be voted for that is one of the biggest achievements I've had so far.

"To have the setback I had last year and to come out on top, to do what I've done and prove to people I am capable of scoring goals...

"I always believed in myself and I have proved that this year. But what's next, I don't know.

"I'm gutted (to lose in the play-offs). We should have won the league but we dropped points where we shouldn't."

Pavey ended last season on loan at Dartford but signed for Welling in the summer following his Millwall exit.

However, the move didn't work out and he was soon as his back back up the A2.

Pavey said: "It didn't go quite well for me when I was on loan but I knew, coming here on loan last year, that I wasn't going to play.

"It was just the fact I wasn't playing at Hampton and it was an opportunity to get that experience in the play-offs.

"I did sit down with Tony and he said 'I can't promise you to play' so the times I did get a few minutes, I had to express myself.

"It didn't go well but I got brought back here and I think I've turned many people's opinions round.

"I've earned a bit of respect from the fans and I can't thank them enough.

"I love this club to pieces and it's given me a platform to play."

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