New signing Ben Heneghan spoke to the press on Thursday afternoon after signing a contract with Fleetwood Town and he explained why he chose to come to the Fylde Coast.
Heneghan, 30, is vastly experienced at the League One level having played for hundreds of games throughout his times at Blackpool, Wimbledon, and Sheffield Wednesday respectively and is looking forward to passing on that knowledge to the players in FY7 as Lee Johnson’s first signing since joining the club.
Here’s what Ben had to say in his first interview:
On what he wants to achieve at Fleetwood…
“My main focus is to get back playing week-in-week-out, that’s my aim. I’ve got to stamp my authority and make an impression so the manager will choose me. There are 39 games in the league, and a few cup games as well, and I’m the type of player that wants to play in every one of them and the manager will know that.
“I’ll bring my experience here as I’ve played plenty of games in League One, so I know what it’s all about. Looking at the squad, we’ve got a lot of good players and I’m just hoping that I can do my bit on the pitch, in the changing rooms, and at the training ground to help bring the wins and clean sheets back as that’s what I pride myself on.
“Like I said, I’ll be driving the team on, they’ll be doing the same, and we’ll all be in it together so I’m hoping for a successful season. I’ll be my biggest critic as I know what I can achieve at this level, I’m confident I can do it – I want to be playing, I want to keep clean sheets, and I want to be winning games.”
On his recovery last season and pushing on…
“It was tough, I wouldn’t wish what I went through on anyone, it was a battle, to say the least, both mentally and physically. It was frustrating as I was playing week-in, week-out, and was playing well at that, but it was just a split-second and it was all taken away for 11 months this weekend – it was a long old slog but I’m back now, I’ve overcome it, and I’m ready to go.
“I’m mentally strong, to say the least, so I know that if there’s a tackle there to be won, I won’t be pulling out, I’ll be going straight through. I believe in my own ability and know how my body feels, so I’m fine. I feel perfectly good and have a point to prove here at Fleetwood.
“Everyone’s thinking the same thing as they want to move onto the next game, no matter whether you are winning, losing, or drawing, you’ve just got to focus on that next game and prepare to go to war whether that’s at the weekend or in midweek – you’ve got to be up for every single game in this league, we want out first win at the weekend.”