To chalk up 500 appearances with one club is a remarkable feat in this day and age. To do it before reaching the age of 30 is even more remarkable but this weekend's npower League 2 clash against Hereford United sees Albion's longest serving player, Aaron Webster notch up his landmark appearance and become only the fifth player in the club's history to achieve the feat.
It helps that Aaron made his first team debut for the Brewers as a seventeen year old (against Halesowen Town in September 1998) and since then he has gone on to be a mainstay of the side with his versatility proving invaluable as he has played as a left winger, left back , central defender, central midfielder and occasionally as a forward. Things almost did not work out for Aaron when he was released by Coventry City as a sixteen year old and having almost decided to give up on the game he was suggested to the Brewers by former youth team scout Pete Simpson and the rest, as they say, is history. After bursting onto the scene with the Albion youth and reserve sides, first team manager John Barton gave Aaron his chance against Halesowen and the youngster did not disappoint. Although it proved to be Barton's last match as manager his successor took Aaron under his wing and developed him into one of the finest players outside of the Football League. A Liverpool fan, Aaron was delighted to see former Anfield player Nigel Clough installed as his new boss and quickly began to impress. His fledgling Albion career was buoyed when he scored the winner against fierce local rivals Gresley Rovers at the Moat Ground in the traditional Christmas fixtures sealing his place in the hearts of Albion fans for getting one over on their neighbours.
Although primarily an attacking left sided player, Nigel Clough had seen enough shining attributes in Aaron to earmark him as an outstanding left back and during the early years of Clough's reign Aaron's conversion to a more defensively minded player began. Despite playing further back in the team it did not diminish Aaron's goalscoring abilities. He seemed to be blessed with the ability to make space for himself in the opposition penalty area to head some invaluable goals and was also the regular penalty taker for a while. In fact it was from the twelve yard mark that Aaron went down in Albion history as the first Albion goalscorer at the Pirelli stadium in a competitive fixture when he netted against Grays Athletic in the 2005-06 season opener. That was one of 39 goals that Aaron scored in the Conference, just one goal behind Shaun Harrad who scored more that anyone else during Albion's seven year stay in non-league's top flight. Aaron of course had a significant part to play in getting Albion into the Conference in the first place proving to be a consistent performer and scorer as Albion ran away with the Northern Premier League title and it was fitting that the game that sealed the title, away at Vauxhall Motors, got off to a flying start when Aaron fired home a trademark free kick to spark a 4-1 victory and mass celebrations at the final whistle.His form during Albion's rise from the UniBond League to the Conference also earned him four caps for the England 'C' side in the days when all non-league players were eligible, not just the under 23 age category.
Injury ruled Aaron out of one of Albion's biggest games when Manchester United played at the Pirelli Stadium in January 2006 but the popular left back managed to recover sufficiently to allow him the opportunity to come on as a substitute in the replay at Old Trafford and have the chance to swap shirts with Rio Ferdinand at the final whistle.
The departure of Nigel Clough, a true mentor to Aaron, hit him hard but eventually sealing promotion to the Football League was a fitting way for Aaron and Darren Stride to mark the end of the 2008-09 season giving them the opportunity to perform on the Football League stage that they had craved for so long.Aaron found himself duelling with experienced left back Paul Boertien last season and also began to play more in the left midfield role where he began his career.
A fitter, leaner Aaron returned to pre-season training in July and earned him a new deal with the club and he has already repaid the faith of manager Paul Peschisolido with two goals in the last home match against Morecambe.Already fifth on the all time appearances roll of honour, those two goals took Aaron level on 86 goals with another Albion legend, Simon Redfern, in fourth place on the all time goalscorers table and one senses that there are plenty more goals in the Webster locker to further cement his place as one of Albion's all time greats.
An exclusive interview with Aaron will be available on Brewers Player on Friday.
