Nathan Pond says his side need to be ready to adapt ahead of Monday night’s Emirates FA Cup First Round tie at Chorley.
Incredibly, Pond was in the Fleetwood team the last time the two sides met, back in 2006 in the Northern Premier League.
The rise of Pond’s career through the divisions with the Cod Army is an unbelievable story, and he is no stranger to the non-league surroundings he will come across at Victory Park.
“We’ve just got to adjust,” said Pond.
“The old non-league stadiums, floodlights, pitch and changing rooms, it’s where I grew up playing. It’ll be interesting for some of the academy lads but at the end of the day it’s football and you’ve got to adapt to it.
“The environment will be different to what a lot of the lads are used to, but good players adjust and that’s what we’re going to do. If we manage that well I’m sure we’ll get a result.”
Fleetwood’s longest serving player will be crossing horns with his old schoolmate, Chorley captain Andy Teague, who he holds in high regard.
“He’s a good player and a good character who leads Chorley well,” said Pond.
“He had a nasty injury when he was at Macclesfield which set him back. He’s been there five or six years now and he’s managed a promotion with them and they were unlucky in the playoffs last year against Halifax.
“I keep in touch with him now and again. We grew up in the same area and went to primary school together and our dads drink in the same local pub!”
Friendships will be put aside come kick-off, with Pond highlighting the mentality which runs deep throughout the squad.
“We’re going there to win,” he said.
“It doesn’t matter who it is, we go to every game to win. We’ve had two good results, a draw at Blackburn and a win against Oxford, two good footballing sides.
“We’ve come out of that with our heads held high. Three points at home and then unlucky not to go on and win the game on Tuesday night.
“Before we lost to Shrewsbury I think we were four undefeated as well, so we’ve only lost one in seven which is good consistency, so we just need to keep it going.”