‘No team in the league can deal with Reds at their best’, Danny Grainger interview

First team manager Danny Grainger says ‘no team in the league can deal with’ Reds at their best ahead of their FA Trophy trip tomorrow.

Grainger, who will be looking to lead his side into the third round of the Buildbase FA Trophy at fellow NPL North West Divison side Brighouse Town in just over 24 hours time, is confident in his top of the table group.

Cup games are always very hard to judge.

But when you look at Brighouse as a team, they’re a well-organised and direct team.

They beat Tadcaster Albion in the last round and we’re going to have to be at our best because when we are, no one in this league can deal with us.

Last Saturday’s postponement meant it was a first free weekend of the season for the squad, and although momentum may have been halted, the manager saw the benefits of the late change of plans.

We’ve had a massive schedule and we discussed training on Saturday but we felt it was nice to have a break.

We had a squad training exercise down in Blackburn last Thursday and Saturday was important that we had a mental break from football.

Grainger also praised the levels of recent training since the game was called-off, stating:

Tuesday and tonight’s sessions have been some of the best since we started.

With two new arrivals at Borough Park, the boss explained how the pair, centre-back Jordan Little and forward Millenic Alli, will benefit the squad.

Firstly, Jordan’s a fantastic player.

I think he’s been in and around locally, and not had much of a break when it comes to playing for Reds, but he’s done fantastically well at Cleator Moor and I’m looking forward to seeing him.

On Alli, he said:

There’s a lot of reliance on Scott Alisson, Dav Symington, and Nathan Waterston, so we’ve been looking to bring someone in who has something slightly different.

He’s a flair player, quick, direct and will take people on – I think he’s a fantastic talent.

Although those additions have boosted the squad, Grainger himself has featured as of late and explained why he’s slotted into the starting XI in various competitions despite not necessarily targetting a return on the pitch.

I said from day one that I didn’t have an interest in playing and I genuinely don’t, even when I played it wasn’t enjoyable, to say the least.

He joked.

I always said I’d play if I was needed in an emergency.

Obviously, when Gaz and Sam got injured, it was classed as one.

I even thought about playing Harry Atkinson [recently training with the first team with fellow youngster Luke Ivison] but we’ve got to remeber he’s still only 16.

Grainger potentially could be involved at the Yorkshire Payments Stadium tomorrow, kick-off 3pm.