United's number one Shaun Marshall signed a two year contract extension at the end of March, and he reflects on the season and tells us what it means to have signed the new deal.

"It means a lot," he says. "The aim at the beginning of the season was to play as many first team games as possible and hopefully achieve another contract. I've achieved the contract so it's just a matter of playing every game until the end of the season now."

Shaun, who has been involved with the U's since the age of eight, adds that to have the security of a two year deal in football's current financial climate is very welcome: "Two years is something not many clubs are offering at the moment and at the end of the day everyone needs security, whatever job you're in."

When he revealed that Shaun had signed a new deal, John Taylor praised the 24-year-old for the progress he has made this season, saying, "He's been magnificent for us all season. He's played his part in a fantastic year for both the club and him, and he's earned his extension to his contract.

"Hopefully the further we go, the better he will be, and I've had many managers on the 'phone asking about the boy."

Taylor and his assistant Dale Brooks also put their signatures to new two-year deals recently, and 'Marshy' believes the club is building for the future, with an eye firmly on promotion.

"With a two year contract it gives the gaffer and myself the scope to look into the future. If things don't work out for us this year in getting promotion then it's definitely got to be on the cards for next year," he said.

Today's match against fourth-placed Scunthorpe is the first of three against teams above the U's in the table, and Shaun confirms that the players still have their sights on a play-off place: "While there's still a realistic chance of us getting to the play-offs then every game we go out to win and get three points," he says, "and until it's mathematically not possible then we'll carry on doing that."

In the last match programme, goalkeeper coach Ali Uzunhasanoglu revealed that he thinks there is possibly 40% more improvement to come from Shaun, and the 'keeper smiles when reminded of the comment.

"I suppose in one respect he's probably right. It's my first season in the first team and it's been a massive learning experience and that can only be beneficial, so next year there's no reason why I shouldn't be able to play even better than I've played this year," he adds.

He also agrees with Ali that there was a psychological challenge to overcome this season, not only to set high standards, but to maintain them.

"It has been hard for the last month," he admits. "We've played probably eight weeks on a Saturday-Tuesday basis and that has been mentally tiring. It's very hard to mentally prepare yourself for the next game when it's just around the corner; you don't get a chance to switch off because it's always in your face.

"If you're playing well and winning then you want the next game to come around, but when they're hard and a struggle your body craves for a rest. But I feel with the last couple of games it's been a lot easier to come through the mental trauma of it all."

As with his aim at the start of this season, Shaun has firm ideas about what he hopes to achieve in the next two years: "I've always been a realistic person and I've kept my goals quite within my grasp.

"At the beginning of the season it was to play as many first team games as possible and get a contract, and I think if I can go ahead and keep playing well next season, obviously there's been interest from other clubs but at this moment in time I'm just happy playing as many games in the first team as possible."

He ends with words of thanks to the supporters, many of whom have chanted "England's number one" to him from the start of the season, when he stepped out of the large shadow cast by the departed Lionel Perez.

"With the fans backing, it's always a lot easier," says Shaun. "It's always nice to go out and the fans know you're always going to do your best, and that's a great burden off your shoulders."

An edited version of this article was published in the programme for the match against Scunthorpe United on 29th March 2003.

An extended version of Shaun's interview is archived for you to listen to on our U's World multimedia website - click here to sign up and enjoy the exclusive audio and video archives.

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