HUMBLED GRAHAM HAPPY TO GRAB HIS CHANCE
CHESTERFIELD rightback Liam Graham admits it wasn’t easy being sent for a spell in Non-League football, buthe feels his game is in a far better place following the experience.
The 24-year-old made his League debut in last Saturday’s defeat at Bury and is also celebrating a call-up to the New Zealand international squad.
It’s all a far cry from how Graham ended last season, loaned out to National League South side Whitehawk in March.
And first-team football was not something Graham had expected to come his way this term.
“I felt quite far away,” he said. “It was quite humbling to go and play in that league, but I think it served me quite well to play in Non-League.
“It gave me 15 games in six weeks, and at the time it was the only real option I had.
“Going to play in a firstteam environment, albeit National League South, was good.”
Missing out on the preseason tour to Hungary spurred Graham on further, before getting his chance in fortunate circumstances with a string of Spireites injures.
He added: “The gaffer kept playing me in preseason and I kept performing well.
“When he called me up to travel with the team to Oxford for the season opener and when he started putting me on the bench, I knew I was near. It was just a matter of where and when.
“I feel bad (for injured colleagues). No player wants that for his teammates, but the opportunity is there for me to take and I’ll be looking to grab it with both hands.
“It’s extremely exciting. The first game is a good one to just get through and now I can try to bring my own brand of football to what the manager is doing with the team.”