Loanee Newby starting to feel at home with Shaymen
ELLIOT NEWBY says he is confident more starts in an FC Halifax Town shirt will come.
The 25-year-old, who is on loan from fellow National League side Stockport County, scored his first Town goal in last Saturday’s astonishing 7-4 FA Cup first round win over Maidenhead.
Seven of his eight appearances for Halifax have been as a substitute, but Newby has been happy to wait his turn.
“I’ve had to be patient because the team’s been successful before I came here, so I’ve got to understand that, and understand that when the team’s doing well the manager’s not going to change it too much,” said the attacking midfielder.
“All I can do is be patient and when I am given the starts that I feel will definitely come, just keep doing what the manager wants me to do in whatever role he wants, whether it is coming off the bench in some games, that’s fine, or if it’s starting, playing a different role and working hard like some of the lads have been doing, that’s also something I’m capable of.
“Obviously I didn’t play a lot of games before coming to Halifax at all, so I don’t think I expected to be coming straight into the team and be playing 90 minutes, because fitness-wise I probably wasn’t 100% match sharp and ready to go.
“But definitely now I’m feeling fitter and stronger as I’ve had some opportunities off the bench, so I definitely feel I’m building that fitness and I’m ready for whatever role the manager wants me to do.”
Newby was a regular for Stockport towards the end of last season but was pushed down the pecking order this campaign, prompting his loan move to The Shay.
“I’ve really enjoyed it,” he said of his time at Town so far. “Obviously when I came in the team had already had a really good start to the season which makes it a lot easier to settle in. The manager’s been really good with me, all the lads are brilliant, and the fans are class as well.
“The way we play, everyone knows their jobs on the pitch and you can tell the manager’s been here for a couple of years because he’s got his ideas across and everyone knows what they’re doing, it’s black and white what everyone should be doing and there’s no-one off doing something on their own, everyone’s on the same page.”
Newby’s balance, close control and link-up play has seen him slot seamlessly into Town’s style of play.
“That was one of the reasons I wanted to come here, and one of the reasons the manager wanted to bring me in, was because the way they play fits the way I want to play,” he said. “I can play in either wide position, behind the striker or midfield so there’s lots of different roles I can play.
“I do really like the way the team plays, I think it really suits me. There’s lots of people offering for the ball all the time when the ball gets played through the midfield. It’s not a case of being expected to do a job you’re not capable of.
“The patterns of play in terms of working the ball through the thirds and working it wide.
“Obviously we don’t have a big centre-forward so it needs to be built up on the floor and played through rather than launched upfield, and that definitely suits me the way I want to play, I want the ball to feet, be able to dribble with it and link with the other players, who are on the same wavelength as me.”
Newby said he wants to stay at Town for as long as he can.
“I’ve really enjoyed it so far so there’s no reason why I wouldn’t want to be here,” said the former Barrow, Telford and Chorley player. “Obviously I’ve come to get some more games and I am getting more game time and I’m helping the team so there’s no reason why I wouldn’t want to stay here as long as possible, because I am enjoying it, I feel like
I fit into the way the team wants to play. I know I’m going to keep getting opportunities to play, which is what I want to do, be able to show the fans what I can do and help the team.
“Can we be up there in the league, can we keep going in the FA Cup, that’s what I want to be part of, so I’m happy here.”
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