How NBA star is helping his local Step 6 club
EVERGREEN Craig Disley says he has no intention of hanging up his boots just yet after re-signing for Barton Town – and he’s aiming to still be playing at 40!
Disley captained Grimsby Town back into the Football League in 2016 to add to his promotions with Mansfield Town and Bristol Rovers in a long professional career.
He will be 39 by the time football resumes but he’s while he’s still enjoying it he’s going to carry on.
Midfielder Disley played in the Northern Counties East Premier Division for Barton last season and he’s raring to go after signing on again.
“I actually injured my medial ligaments in my knee in January so I missed the last couple of months before lockdown,” Disley told The NLP.
“I’ll be 39 by the time the season starts again but I still feel good, I still feel fit. I’m just desperate to get back out there and have another crack.
“To be honest there were times over lockdown where I thought is it worth it, do I want to go back? But when you think about it, and it is a cliche, but you’re a long time retired so while I’ve got a chance to play at a decent standard I’ve got to go out and do that.
“Especially with the injury last year, I don’t really want to finish on something like that when I still feel I’ve got quite a bit to offer.
“I’m lucky. I don’t really need to stretch a lot after training like a lot of people have to. I still feel like I can get around in games – whether it looks like that from the sidelines, I’m not sure!
Soul-destroying
“I tend to sit a little bit now to get the ball and keep it moving rather than bombing up and down like I used to. But if there’s a chance to furrow forward then I will do and I still scored a couple of goals last year.
“I’ve made it an aim to still be playing when I’m 40 so I’ve got a couple of seasons yet!”
And Disley says Step 5 Barton are the ideal club to enjoy the winter of his career. “It’s a great little club, they do things the right way, they’ve got a lovely little stadium, a nice clubhouse and the people are really friendly,” he said. “I think when you find somewhere like that it’s nice.
“At this level people tend to move around but once you get a feel for a place and you like the people, I don’t see a reason to look elsewhere. We’ve got a good group of lads a new manager (Rob Watson), a decent core have stayed from last year and a few have signed so I’m positive for the new season.”
Disley, who now works at a steelworks, admits it took time to adapt to part-time football when he dropped out of the
Football League to sign for Alfreton in 2017.
But he still wants to achieve and add to his medal collection with Grimsby’s promotion final win his top moment.
“It has to be,” Disley said. “We had so many disappointments leading up to it – especially the year before losing on penalties to Bristol Rovers, which was soul destroying. So to come back the year after, dig in when we needed to and then to be the person to lift the trophy at Wembley in front of all our supporters was incredible.
“I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t the best day I’ve had in my career because it certainly was. It’s one that will live with me forever.”