THIS week marked a full year in which Mael de Gevigney has started every Barnsley League One game.

The French defender, after a difficult debut against Oxford United in August last year, came back into Neill Collins’ team for a home match with Blackpool on September 30 and has kept his place ever since.

Including the play-off semi-finals, he has played every minute of the last 48 consecutive third tier games under Collins, caretaker Martin Devaney and now Darrell Clarke. The last Barnsley player to start 50 successive league games was Michal Helik.

De Gevigney told the Chronicle: “I am feeling good. I am doing my best on and off the pitch. It’s good that the gaffer puts me in the starting 11 every game.

“That is what I want. That’s why I am here. I am here to help the team and do my best every game.”

Mael, who trained as a physiotherapist while in the lower leagues in France, is pleased he has stayed fit for a whole year.

“We have a good staff who help us to be 100 per cent every game.

“I am taking care of myself too – eating and sleeping well.

“Maybe that’s what helps me to be fit every game.”

After missing out in the play-off semi-finals in May, de Gevigney is keen to secure promotion this season.

“Obviously that’s what we want.

“We are Barnsley, we are a team who need to fight for promotion.

“We have the players and staff to do it and we will fight for it until the end of the season.”

Barnsley’s game on Saturday against Stockport County was played at 7.45pm – a timing de Gevigney is more used to than his team-mates.

“I don’t mind because in France we play in the night maybe all the season.

“I am used to it. It was a good atmosphere under the lights. I want to thank the fans for coming.”

Head coach Clarke criticised his players for their performance on Saturday, after they lost the ball regularly.

De Gevigney said: “It happens sometimes.

“You will lose the ball more sometimes than other times.

“It’s part of the game.

“Of course we can work on being more tidy on the ball to control the game. Everybody needs to have the same mindset.”