IT’S ALL ADDING UP FOR REECE
He’s Darlo striker and a trainee accountant
HE’S scored goals wherever he’s played and is currently banging them in for National League North outfit Darlington. It’s always good to catch up with him:
STYCHEY, DARLO NEXT YEAR. WHAT ARE YOUR EXPECTATIONS IN WHAT’S ALREADY A VERY COMPETITIVE NATIONAL NORTH?
Yes, you’re right, it’s a very competitive league this year with some big names and big budgets, so it will be tougher than it ever has been. I actually think this division is tougher than the National League at the moment. We have strengthened our squad with some very good signings. We have to aim for promotion. Who are the favourites? I don’t think you can look past the big spenders in the league, York, Kidderminster, Brackley, Stockport etc. These are the ones to look out for.
YOU STILL LIVE IN BIRMINGHAM. HOW IS THE JOURNEY OF OVER 150 MILES TO A HOME GAME?
Yeah, it’s a good journey to our home games and training, but I am in a fortunate position that the manager (Tommy Wright) understands my work commitments so I only train on a Thursday and use the week to do my own personal stuff.
As you know from playing in the league, Darlo is a massive club, similar to the likes of York and Stockport – you always want to play for someone of that calibre.
Also a massive decision for me was the manager and security for my family. I have just signed a new deal which will keep me here for a further two years. In this day and age, contracts are hard to earn at this level, so right now I’m in a great place.
BEST AND WORST MANAGER YOU’VE WORKED FOR?
I wouldn’t say I had a best manager as the ones I have had have all benefited or helped me in some way, shape or form in my career. John Askey at Macclesfield, Andy Morrell and Mike Fowler at Tamworth and my current manager Tommy Wright.
They all allowed me to express myself in games and it’s with those that I have played and enjoyed my best football.
The reason for that is because they give you the freedom to go out and play. They didn’t make me the fall guy if we lost and when I played badly they kept their faith with me.
On the flip side, a manager who I didn’t really get on with was Gary Whild from my time at Kidderminster. I won’t go to deep into details but the man-management side of the game was not his best trait, and for that reason we clashed.
ONE INTERNATIONAL CAP. TELL US MORE...
Gibraltar was a great experience mainly because my family that live there got to see me play for their country that they are so proud of.
My biggest regret, though, was going there too soon after my ACL return. I wasn’t ready to play international football and it really hindered me when I went over. I don’t think I was 70 per cent ready even though I had just got my move to Wycombe. The move to Wycombe and my international cap were my proudest moments but also my biggest regrets in my career to date.
LIFE AFTER FOOTBALL…
Now I am a trainee chartered accountant and I couldn’t be happier. You were with me at Gateshead when I made that decision. I spoke to you about it and doing what was best for my family was the main thing that came out of our conversation. You often see so many lads not know what to do after their ‘full-time’ career ends. Luckily for me, I had this great opportunity and I haven’t looked back. I am looking to progress in my job now and get started on my CIMA training and qualification. I have the best of both worlds – I’m still playing at a very good level and looking towards the future with my accountancy and building myself up in that professional ladder.
BEST FOOTBALL TALE?
At Forest Green Rovers, we used to train about 20 minutes from the ground and to get there we had to go up a road right by the ground which was known as ‘the ladder’. It was steep, twisty, and full of really deep wet tyre tracks. Now this ground had hardened over the summer and the tyre tracks that had dried out were quite deep. As we were going to training, James Norwood decided he wanted to take this short cut for the ‘banter’. Bear in mind this car was a Fiat Lupo and had me, James, Tommy Wright and Sam Russell all in it. As you can imagine, the car was pretty low to the ground. James hit this track at some serious speed and all you heard was this humongous bang and the sound of tyres just spinning. Nors had effectively got us ‘beached’ on this dried-up tyre track. We jumped out trying to push the car off the mound but there was no chance of that. In the end, we had to jump in with someone else and leave him to sort his car out so we weren’t late for training. He had to have his car rescued by a tractor which pulled him out and he ended up forking out for a whole new exhaust system as his was completely smashed. It cost him £400 and was the most expensive bit of banter he had ever done! The gaffer asked where he was and we just had to say, ‘Oh, his car has broke down!’