King optimistic Shaymen can finish in the top seven
JEFF KING is confident FC Halifax Town can finish in the top seven in the National League this season.
The midfielder has become an important part of the Halifax side since being deployed as a right wing-back, and returned from suspension to help Town to victory over Sutton at The Shay on Tuesday night.
“My first game was against Oldam in pre-season and I knew the team had something about them, you could just tell, it had good leaders and a bit of youth in there.
“Without jinxing us, I think we’ve got a massive chance, maybe of even pushing Barrow all the way because I can’t see us losing many games now until the end of the season.
“I came in four days before the season started so I didn’t know much about the team or the gaffer. But Browny (Matty Brown) said to me after our good start ‘if we can keep it up we’re in with a good chance’ and credit to the lads and the staff, we’ve stuck together.
“We went through our rough spell earlier in the season and hopefully we can get over the line now and stay in those playoff positions, or even put a bit of pressure on Barrow.”
King reckons Town’s harmonious atmosphere has been a big factor in their unexpectedly successful season so far.
“There’s no cliques in our dressing room, everyone gets on with each other, there’s no-one who sits in the corner on their own,” he said.
“We have a good laugh and the group chat’s always bouncing. When I moved up to play in Scotland there were cliques all over the place, it happens. But everyone is getting on, and I think that’s massive. If you have people who don’t get on in the changing room it can affect you on the pitch.”
King wants Town to be on the front-foot between now and the end of the campaign.
“Especially with the pitches getting the way they are now, I think it’s going to be about being aggressive,” he said.
“If people come to our place, and it’s cold, they’re not going to like it. If we can get around them, be aggressive, be a horrible team, putting in tackles, I that’s going to be important.
“And then with the quality up the pitch we’ve got, I don’t think a lot of teams have that, where we can put a nothing ball over a full-back’s head, into a good area, and we have players who can get on the end of it.
“Teams are scared of that, and they’re backing off, which is giving other players space who have quality.”
The former Bolton and St Mirren player came to The Shay as an attacking midfielder, but has looked at home at right wing-back.
“I’ve never played there before but the gaffer just put me in there. He knows I like my physical battles, I like a tackle,” he said. “I get yellow cards but I like winning my headers and my tackles and I like getting on the ball.
“I enjoy it. I’ll always try my hardest, I’ll never back out of anything or shy away, regardless if I’m playing right wing-back or in goal, I’ll always try and do something for the team.
“I’ve always rated myself on goals, and maybe playing out of position at times hasn’t helped me with that.
“I’m happy with my assists, I think I’m top at the club for assists.
“I’ve still got more to give, I know I have, but the way last season went, to say this year I’ve made over 30 appearances and over 20 starts, it’s massive, so I’m happy and long may it continue.”
King’s start against Sutton came on the back of a two-game suspension for accumulating 10 bookings, and he then received his 11th in midweek
“I do get a bit of stick,” he said of his disciplinary record. “Anyone who knows me, that’s just the way I play, I play with my heart on my chest.
“The gaffer gives me a bit of banter but he’s also said it needs to stop, because it can cost us, especially with Ducky (Michael Duckworth) being out. I’m hoping that place will be mine as long as I keep doing what I’m doing.”
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