Two of Fleetwood Town’s mid-season signings find themselves in particularly interesting situations as the Blue Square North season reaches its climax.
Midfielder, Anthony Barry, is striving to reach the Blue Square Premier just twelve months after fighting to avoid it with Chester City while striker, Lee Thorpe, is whetting his appetite for a potential duel with former club Darlington who were recently relegated from Football League Two.
Barry, whose defence-splitting long pass set up Gareth Seddon for last Saturday’s vital winner at Blyth Spartans, is amused by the situation that he now finds himself in since signing for Town at the end of January.
‘It’s funny how the tables have turned but it shows what can happen in football in just a short period of time. The Blue Square Premier is the league that I’m looking to get into and the one that this club should be in.’
Meanwhile, Thorpe, signed at the beginning of March, is intrigued by a possible return to play the Quakers at the Darlington Arena.
“It’s been a bit of a change, but a good one, to come from a struggling team to one who might go up and meet them next season – it’s weird!”
Both players have enjoyed their time at Highbury so far. For the ambitious Barry, being in a successful side is exactly what he wants.
“I’m really appreciating the experience and loving winning games, which is the main reason that I came here. I’m a winner and I’ve come to win football matches. I’ve enjoyed playing, despite not always being in the position that I’d prefer, but that’s not the main thing. The main thing is playing and winning – that’s what I’ve come to do.”
Thorpe, at the other end of his career, sees himself as being able to pass on the experience that will benefit others around him. He has been instrumental in the development of leading scorer Adam Warlow and describes the twenty-nine-goal hit man as a ‘quality striker’ and ‘a good lad who listens.’
“I’m not getting any younger but still enjoy the game – I see myself as adding my experience and taking pressure off others to allow them to do what they’re good at which is scoring goals.”
The target man reserved a special mention for fellow-striker Seddon.
“Sedds is another quality striker who I’ve been alongside a couple of times and I think that we complement each other well.”
Both Barry and Thorpe agree that the team can do nothing to influence the off-field issues such as the appeal regarding the Farsley Celtic demise.
They have just got to keep winning games – that’s all that the players can do. Both are enjoying being part of a winning side and are looking forward to a big crowd and electric atmosphere at Highbury on Saturday for the final game of the league season, against Stalybridge Celtic. Thorpe described playing in front of the Cod Army.
“The fans have made themselves heard and it has been good to play in front of such crowds at this level. The Cod Army are a little mad and it’s nice to play in front of them! If Saturday, doesn’t get us up, I’m sure they’ll be back to support us in the play-offs.”
