Cod Army team mates for five years
Shaun Beeley is the latest player to come out and pay tribute to Nathan Pond ahead of his testimonial fixture against Preston North End this weekend.
The 24-year-old right back has played alongside Pond on many occasions in the past five years he has been at the club and says his fellow defender deserves his testimonial.
Beeley said: “It’s brilliant and he fully deserves it. He is a quality player and an even better lad in the dressing room and I have known him for five years now and each year has got better and better. He is one of the best lads around.”
Pond has been an influential figure in the back line since he joined the club in 2003 and has gone through five promotions with the club starting in the North West Counties Division One.
Beeley himself has won three promotions with Fleetwood in their run to the Football League and when he was asked what Pond’s biggest attributes were Beeley said: “Size and brute strength, he can head anything and kick anything, but for a big lad he is quick as well.
“He’s not a prima donna; he’s just as straight forward and normal as they come. He works his socks off and always wants to improve.”
Friends, family, former team-mates and former manager, Tony Greenwood, will all be in attendance for the game against his hometown club and Beeley believes Pond will be nervous before the game but insists it won’t put him off his normal game.
“I think he will be (excited). It will be slight nerves as well but I think he will go out and play his normal game and enjoy it and embrace the moment.”
Pond has already admitted that he doesn't want to take a penalty if one was to come about in the game, a decision that has been met with bemusement by Beeley.
He said: “He could blast it anywhere! To be fair I think he would just put a hole in the back of the net - or in the windows behind the goal – but no he is a top lad.”
Kick-off on Saturday is 2pm and tickets are on sale until kick-off from Highbury for home and away supporters. Jim's Sports Bar is open from 11am for Town and North End fans.