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The rest of Gower’s season was equally good, adding another seven goals and creating many chances for Leon Constantine as the Blues killed off any relegation threats. At the end of the season, an injured Mark Gower was awarded the Player of the Year Award The expectations were that the skillful winger would have an equally good 2004/2005 season. But that’s were everything went a bit pear-shaped.
The ‘2003/2004 Fans Player of the Year’ was still struggling to get fitness following a knee operation, and come the 2004/05 season, Mark struggled to recapture his form of the previous campaign. Instead, Gower played abysmally against Cheltenham, again on the opening day of the season, and his season struggled to take off. "Last season was a great time for the team and for the club it was superb to get promotion, but for me it wasn’t the best of times and after Christmas I was struggling with an injury and it became frustrating for me," Gower told the Southend Evening Echo.
However Gower confirmed that he and the team should be able to settle in League One, despite no signings as of yet "It will obviously be a step up and the games will probably be a bit quicker but we won’t be overawed that’s for sure."
Club physio John Stannard has told Gower to go away and work on a few things as the former England under 18 international looks to shake off a niggling back injury. "I need to improve my posture and hopefully come the start of pre-season when we report back I will be fully fit and next season I hope I can be back to my best again," said the Edmonton born midfielder.
Having gained promotion and with another two years left on his contract, hopefully this will be the last that we hear of Mark Gower on the treatment table so that he can do what he does best, scoring and creating goals.
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By Adam Duffill