EFE Sodje says the adulation of the supporters was one of the main reasons behind his decision to sign a new two-year contract with Bury.

The 38-year-old is an extremely popular player down at Gigg Lane, and always seems to pick up an award from junior supporters at the annual presentation evening.

He also came out on top in a Bury Times poll to find the player of the season, underlining the esteem in which he is held by fans.

And the feeling is mutual. Sodje always has time for Shakers followers, right down to the time he helped a young fan with a project at school.

The youngster had to do a presentation on her hero to the rest of her class-mates and, after her father phoned the club to ask for some information on Sodje, the message was passed to the former Nigeria international who got in his car and popped down to the school to help her do the presentation in person.

That is just the tip of the iceberg with Sodje, who is delighted to be staying put.

“The fans do seem to love me, and that is good because you cannot enjoy your football if the fans are not behind you,” he said.

“You have to give them 100 per cent because they give you the same back in support and spirit. I am the type of player that needs to feel wanted, and, if everybody loves me, I feel happy.”

Sodje, who has won seven promotions in his colourful career, has set his sights on a number of new targets – displaying the hunger that drives him on to play beyond his 40th birthday.

“I have one target to achieve, and that’s 500 league games (he is currently on 475),” he said. “I’m still hungry, I’ve still got the passion to play.

“I’ve had promotions here and there, but that's not the main thing. I still have the love for the game, in life you always have to set a target, and my target every season is either to score goals or to not get sent off.

“My next target is 500 league games, then I will set a new target, which will be for my picture to be in Legends bar at Bury Football Club.”

He and the rest of his team-mates are already assured a place in club folklore following their amazing promotion-winning season just gone.

And, in one respect, it was a case of mission accomplished for Sodje.

“Alan Knill brought me here three season ago and I promised him then I would get a promotion for him and I have been true to my word,” he said.

“This is the best promotion because all the lads have been great. I am close to them. I always thought the best promotion was the one at Huddersfield because I was captain but this one eclipses it.

“I’m young at heart, but I have a love, joy and happiness for life and my football. There will be a time when I have to call it quits, but not for now.”