Home
There was a familiar feel around Lostock for Stephen Darby when he first jogged out on to the training pitch last week.
Wanderers’ newest arrival was already well-known to the former Bradford City contingent, not least Phil Parkinson, who appointed the right-back as his captain at Valley Parade.
But there was a certain amount of déjà vu for Darby as he integrated himself into a squad still brimming with promotion confidence. It was the same successful vibe he had experienced under Parkinson during cup runs and a promotion with the Bantams, and a commodity he thinks will come in handy in a challenging Championship campaign.
“The gaffer and his staff’s record speaks for itself over the last few years and they proved their approach works,” he told The Bolton News.
“You have got to work with what you’ve got and get the best out of it. And the gaffer certainly did that at Bradford, he made sure everyone knew their job and fought for each other.
“I know when I played at the Macron last season it was one of the toughest games we had, so he has done the same sort of thing here. I am sure that’s what we’ll look to do again this season and make sure it’s tough for teams to come and get results at our place.
“The team had a real work ethic last season, you could see that from the outside looking in, and obviously that’s why they got promoted. We can build on that this season. But since I came in I can sense the same sort of thing.”
Darby played close to 200 league games for Bradford over the course of five years but his final year under Stuart McCall did not go according to plan.
The former Liverpool trainee was overlooked for much of the second half of the season and moves were made by Wanderers to get him on board in January.
Bradford’s hierarchy were reluctant to allow Darby to join one of their then-promotion rivals, and the Liverpudlian was left to see the campaign out with minimal involvement before his release was confirmed.
“I can’t exactly say it was a wrench to leave because I didn’t get offered anything, so obviously it made things a little easier,” he said of his departure.
“I never felt the writing was completely on the wall but when you are not playing in the last few months of your contract you do start to wonder whether you are going to get anything.
“What’s happened has happened. I have had a summer to think about everything and thankfully now I’m sorted here. I am looking forward to the future.
“I had certainly been a part of Bradford for a long time and had some great times there. I met some really great people and made special memories but it’s in the past now.
“I take all those good things with me – but I am only looking forward to a future with Bolton now and working hard to be a success here.”
Darby has played in every division in the Football League with the exception of the Championship and his initial assessment of the Wanderers squad suggests they are capable of sticking around this season.
Though Wanderers will be underdogs this year, ranked as one of the bookmakers’ favourites for the drop, the defender believes Parkinson’s squad will steer clear of trouble.
“The Championship will be a new challenge for me but I’m looking forward to it,” he said. “But it’s not only me – I think the lads are looking forward to the challenge as well.
“One of the big draws for me coming here was an opportunity to work with the gaffer and his staff again. I know what they are about. “They might be underdogs, or whatever, but I’ve been training with the lads for a few days now and you can already see why they were so successful last season because there is a lot of quality there too.”
Source
Wanderers’ newest arrival was already well-known to the former Bradford City contingent, not least Phil Parkinson, who appointed the right-back as his captain at Valley Parade.
But there was a certain amount of déjà vu for Darby as he integrated himself into a squad still brimming with promotion confidence. It was the same successful vibe he had experienced under Parkinson during cup runs and a promotion with the Bantams, and a commodity he thinks will come in handy in a challenging Championship campaign.
“The gaffer and his staff’s record speaks for itself over the last few years and they proved their approach works,” he told The Bolton News.
“You have got to work with what you’ve got and get the best out of it. And the gaffer certainly did that at Bradford, he made sure everyone knew their job and fought for each other.
“I know when I played at the Macron last season it was one of the toughest games we had, so he has done the same sort of thing here. I am sure that’s what we’ll look to do again this season and make sure it’s tough for teams to come and get results at our place.
“The team had a real work ethic last season, you could see that from the outside looking in, and obviously that’s why they got promoted. We can build on that this season. But since I came in I can sense the same sort of thing.”
Darby played close to 200 league games for Bradford over the course of five years but his final year under Stuart McCall did not go according to plan.
The former Liverpool trainee was overlooked for much of the second half of the season and moves were made by Wanderers to get him on board in January.
Bradford’s hierarchy were reluctant to allow Darby to join one of their then-promotion rivals, and the Liverpudlian was left to see the campaign out with minimal involvement before his release was confirmed.
“I can’t exactly say it was a wrench to leave because I didn’t get offered anything, so obviously it made things a little easier,” he said of his departure.
“I never felt the writing was completely on the wall but when you are not playing in the last few months of your contract you do start to wonder whether you are going to get anything.
“What’s happened has happened. I have had a summer to think about everything and thankfully now I’m sorted here. I am looking forward to the future.
“I had certainly been a part of Bradford for a long time and had some great times there. I met some really great people and made special memories but it’s in the past now.
“I take all those good things with me – but I am only looking forward to a future with Bolton now and working hard to be a success here.”
Darby has played in every division in the Football League with the exception of the Championship and his initial assessment of the Wanderers squad suggests they are capable of sticking around this season.
Though Wanderers will be underdogs this year, ranked as one of the bookmakers’ favourites for the drop, the defender believes Parkinson’s squad will steer clear of trouble.
“The Championship will be a new challenge for me but I’m looking forward to it,” he said. “But it’s not only me – I think the lads are looking forward to the challenge as well.
“One of the big draws for me coming here was an opportunity to work with the gaffer and his staff again. I know what they are about. “They might be underdogs, or whatever, but I’ve been training with the lads for a few days now and you can already see why they were so successful last season because there is a lot of quality there too.”
Source