JORDAN IS COASTING AT THE TOP

NEW AFC Fylde defender Jordan Tunnicliffe thinks he’s returning to Non-League’s top tier a better defender.

The 23-year-old has joined the National League new boys, who signed midfielder Lewis Montrose from Stockport County this week, after two-and-a-half years at Kidderminster Harriers. He joined Kiddy when they were in the Conference and has made around 80 appearances – including during their relegation season in 2015.

But after adding to his experience last season in the National League North as Kiddy finished runners-up, Tunnicliffe feels he’s progressed.

“I wanted to make the move up to the league higher and AFC Fylde have given me the opportunity to do that,” he said. “Even though I loved it at Kiddy, I wanted to progress my career. If that’s a step at a time then that’s what I’m willing to do. The facilities are really good there; they’re going in the right direction and they want to be in the Football League in a few years. So I feel like it’s the club for me to be at.

“I’m looking forward to a good break now and then at pre-season I’ll be raring to go. Hopefully we can really push up the table.

“I played around 80 games for Kiddy. Being a young centre-half that’s put me in good stead. Hopefully I’ll keep progressing.”

Tunnicliffe capped his season with a call-up to Paul Fairclough’s England C squad and he played 90 minutes against Jersey FA on Tuesday night.

“It was a really good experience to go away with that atmosphere,” he said. “We learned a lot about what it’s like to be in that environment. To be picked out of a lot of players to be there in the first place is a real privilege.

“They said it’s a big field of players they could pick from so it’s a good personal achievement. Hopefully all the lads, me included, can take it into next season.”