RITCHIE HUMPHREYS is joining the handful of Hartlepool United players to be awarded a testimonial year at the club.

The club captain moved to Victoria Park in 2001 and, while this season marks his tenth in a blue and white shirt, next year he will rack up a decade of service.

He currently lies second in the all-time appearance list, on 454, 18 behind record holder Watty Moore.

There’s every chance the club’s Player of the Century will break that record in the coming months, during which his programme of events will be under way, starting with a golf day at Wynyard Golf Club on October 19 and ending with a game at Victoria Park next summer.

“It’s going to take a bit of organising and checking availability before we can finalise anything with regards to a game,’’ he said. “I’ve played in a few over the years, and they have been good events. Let’s hope we can get the timing right and enjoy it.’’ Benefit games and testimonial years have been rare over the years at Pools. Kenny Johnson and Tom Burlison were awarded a joint benefit game in the Fifties, Brian Honour and Micky Barron had testimonial years, while defender Alan Goad and physio Tommy Johnson were both granted games.

Humphreys racked up an astonishing run of 234 consecutive appearances for the club from August 2001 to August 2006.

He was then sent on loan to Port Vale by then boss Danny Wilson, but the prospect of leaving permanently was never in his thoughts.

“I went on loan to Port Vale and I went there to play some games,” said the 33-year-old.

“The manager said I wouldn’t be playing and he wanted me to go and play games.

“My intention was to come back and play in the first-team after playing games, Port Vale wanted to take me on loan and I had a duty to go there and do my best for them, to make sure I was fit to come back here and force my way back in.

“I’ve played a lot of games here and know how close I am to Watty Moore’s record. I’m fortunate to have played a hell of a lot of games and if I get the chance to play as many and get the record it would be a proud moment.”

He added: “I want to play week in, week out and sustain some sort of form to stay in the team. It would be amazing to get the record in my testimonial year. I’ve a real affinity for this football club, I’ve always been passionate about it. I feel really privileged to be part of it and have the chance to play and have the opportunity to change things on a Saturday.

“It’s a privilege to get the shirt, it’s a wish of a lot of people and I’m honoured to be given a testimonial year.’’ Humphreys’ work ethic has long been praised by the managers he has worked under as an example for younger professionals to follow.

And he cites an early message during his time as a prospect at Sheffield Wednesday as the reason behind his longevity in the game.

“I was told a long time ago by a coach at Sheffield Wednesday you have to train as you play. Other managers have said that here as well,’’ he said. “Not all players are great trainers, but great on a matchday and vice-versa.

“I’ve played with some who are unbelievable in training, but couldn’t do it in a matchday.

If you work to your maximum each day, sometimes you might not feel great physically – especially as you get older – or you might have a bad training session but you can make light heart of it because you know the next day is another session.

“But the game has changed on the physical side as well.

Fitness and weight training has come in massively. It started at the time I was leaving Wednesday in the early Nineties, fitness coaches and diet and nutrition and the like.

“Simple things like taking water on board, days when you think you just drink when you train even though you need to keep energy levels topped up.

“The whole thing has changed over the years and I’ve tried to take it on board.

Weights, stretching and all those things may just give you 20 more games at the end of your career, a season or two.

Those sacrifices can give you another year playing football which lots of others would like to do.’’ ■ For details of the golf day and future testimonial events contact Sam Lee on 01429-265859 or email slee@publicityseekers.co.uk