Can you give me your thoughts on the decision to declare the 2019/20 season null and void and how that impacts your motivation and ambitions for the new season?

Given the position we were in, in the league and with the chance to win the Derbyshire Senior Cup, I was gutted to see the season cancelled although it was entirely understandable. I can’t work out why we can’t play the cup final pre-season though, that is a strange one for me. It gives us something to aim for and better next season. As a team we should want to finish what we started this season and try and get the club promoted.

What have you been doing to keep in shape for when the new season can start?

I have been going on runs and doing little workouts but it’s a tough one to gauge because we don’t know what return date we’re aiming for. You’ve got to get the balance right for when you start back for pre-season.

Your performances in the role of central striker split supporters’ opinions a little last season. I felt you grew into the role you were asked to play and added attributes to your game as the season went on. Did you find you had to adapt your game to suit the tactical approach?

I heard a few people say this and it’s a strange one because I have played as a striker since I started playing football and pretty much played as a lone striker from being twelve years old. If it looks like I haven’t played there before I must just not be very good at it! As long as I’m playing I’m happy and if it’s benefitting the team then that’s all that matters. I scored 15 goals and got over double figures in assists last season in just over 30 games and I was happy with that. I will be looking to add to that next season!

I think that fans’ favourite George Milner starting the season on the bench increased what was expected of you. Also you started the season at centre-back and only started scoring regularly from November but your role in the team was never just about scoring goals with the system that was being played.

I played centre-half a lot the season before as well and it can take time to adjust to the position you’re playing. I know Southy (Danny South) finds it easy and looks great in either position! I’m not a player to big myself up but players don’t always get the credit for the other stuff they do off the ball, the donkey work as the gaffer calls it.

You scored 15 goals last season before it was abandoned, and you said in an interview you felt you could have gone on to score 20 or even 25. With the arrival of two additional strikers in Danny Frost and Steve McDonnell do you think you’ll have the opportunity to score more goals next season?

They are two great additions to the squad. I played up top with Frosty for two years at Ossett Town so I know what he’s about and he scores plenty of goals. Macca is another good striker who I know from his time here before. I thought he was the standout player when we played Worksop at home, he ran Southy all over the shop. He was the only player to do that all season though. They are both goal scorers and I’m looking forward to playing alongside them.

You work with Belper Town manager Grant Black. How much do you talk about what’s happened on the pitch while at work? Is Grant’s managerial style similar in each environment?

It all depends if we win or not. If we win we will talk about the game for the next couple of days. If we lose and I have played particularly badly we stay away from each other. It lasted two weeks once, some going when you work next to each other every day! It’s very much the same style, do what is asked of you and there are no problems, if you don’t he will want to know why. He’s a lot more vocal at football as you would expect.

One of your teammates who claims that pace is one of his greatest attributes told me that you are the slowest player at the club. How would you respond to that?

I would guess that’s Southy? It really bothers him that I’m quicker than he is and he can’t let it go! He always wants to race me before games and at training. It bothers him too much.

You mentioned in another interview that the squad had been doing Zoom quizzes during lockdown. If you had to pick a quiz dream team from the Nailers players and staff who would be the first and last people you would want on your team?

We have got a really thick team so I haven’t got much to choose from really! Based on his form from the Zoom quiz, I would pick Norbs (Mick Norbury, assistant manager). He seems to know all the random stuff you wouldn’t expect anyone to know. Last would definitely be Muzzy (Ryan Musselwhite), he comes out with some right belters. A few weeks before the end of the season he filled his car up, went to pay and when he came back he tried getting in the wrong car! That’s what we are dealing with.

Which Belper Town player should I interview next and is there a particular question I really need to be asking them?

I think you should interview George (Milner) and ask him how his cattle are.