Interview with - Darren Caskey

Q: A SEASON’S BEST CROWD OF 15,000 PLUS, THREE POINTS AND A FRIENDLY PITCH INVASION IN CELEBRATION, NOT A BAD WAY TO END A DIFFICULT SEASON?

A: It was a great result against Huddersfield but the most pleasing thing was the way we played. Everyone thought it might be a scrappy game and we might nick it 1-0 but we played some good football so let’s hope that bodes well for next season. The crowd lifted us from the start and when we had a goal disallowed in the first minute there was never a thought, in our minds, that we were ever going to lose.

Q: WHAT ABOUT DANNY ALLSOPP, WHO GOT HIS 28TH GOAL OF THE SEASON AGAINST HUDDERSFIELD. WHAT WOULD YOU HAVE DONE WITHOUT HIM THIS SEASON?
A: I think we would have been struggling but at the end of the day every team needs that kind of player and Danny has been fantastic this season. He’s scored about three million goals (slight exaggeration there, Darren) and hopefully next year he, and someone else can get around 30 goals and we will be up at the right end of the table.

Q: WHAT ABOUT THE MANAGER. WHAT HAS BILLY DEARDEN DONE TO TURN AROUND WHAT WAS ALMOST A HOPELESS SITUATION?

A: I think one of the major things he has done is let people express themselves and I think that took quite a bit of pressure off one or two players. Different managers have got different characters and different approaches. He takes things on board, from various sources, and is very relaxed and that has helped the team more than anything. It may sound silly but things like that can sometimes turn fortunes around. The last two or three months the lads have played with a lot more freedom and that is down to the manager.

Q: JUST WHAT IS YOUR TEAM CAPABLE OF BECAUSE, AT TIMES THIS SEASON, YOU HAVEN`T PLAYED LIKE A STRUGGLING SIDE, HAVE YOU?
A: I think we have proved, in recent months, that we can do it on a regular basis. I have played in this division for quite a while and I know that things can snowball. You can get on a losing run and it can grow but you can also get on a winning streak and that can snowball and we are capable of producing a winning run, as we have proved. We have also proved, with the way we have scrapped for our status, that we do have the character to dig in and fight for results. I don’t think it has ever been done before for a team in a position that we were in at Christmas to escape but that just proves what the team is capable of.

Q: IT MUST HAVE BEEN A HAIRY LAST EIGHT MINUTES AFTER HUDDERSFIELD GOT THAT PENALTY?
A: I don’t know about that. I thought we were quite comfortable and despite them putting on a bit of pressure I don’t think our keeper had too much to do. At the other end we forced a few saves from their keeper and as I said before I don’t think there was ever any danger of us losing today.

Q: YOU FINISHED THE SEASON PLAYING IN FRONT OF 15,000 FANS. HOW ARE YOU GOING TO KEEP THAT 15,000 COMING THROUGH THE TURNSTILES, NEXT SEASON?

A: Hopefully we will do that by not being near the bottom. The fans have been fantastic and if we can start winning games hopefully they will keep coming every week. It does make a difference, when you are out there. It makes a different atmosphere and that really can help. All the players are delighted for the fans because a lot of them have followed us all over the country through the season and I just want them to know that their support is appreciated by the lads.

Interview Courtesy from the Proffessional Footballers Association (P.F.A)

Interview with - Darren Caskey

Last updated : 30 April 2002 By The P.F.A

Trending on the boards