HUNGRY PETT’S LENGTHY ROAD TO THE EFL
TOM Pett believes that his rise to the sharp end of League Two is a triumph of self-belief.
Heading into this weekend, Pett’s Lincoln were sitting pretty at the top of the tree, with the 26-yearold former Stevenage midfielder a key cog in Danny Cowley’s Imps machine.
Pett began his career with Non-League Potters Bar Town and his first taste of the EFL arrived in 2014 when Stevenage swooped to recruit him from Wealdstone.
Now revelling in the Imps’ promotion push, a reflective Pett is unashamedly proud of his journey so far.
“Most kids as a teenager want to be footballers. When I was younger, I felt that if I was not in an academy, then I would never make it as a professional,” said the Lincoln man.
“If you keep working towards where you want to be and keep your feet on the ground, you will always make it to where you want to go.
“I started off at NonLeague and kept moving up the ranks to where I am now – it has played a massive part in why I am the person I am today.
“A lot of lads have come through the Non-League route. It shapes you as both a person and as a player.
“I have learned a lot through those leagues and made a lot of friends. My journey is something that I will never regret.”
Pett is also loving the midfield partnership he has formed with 30-yearold Northern Irishman Michael O’Connor.
He said: “I’m still learning my game in that position and he is always talking to you. I take things from his game and put them into mine when I can.
“He always looks so relaxed on the ball and always seems to have plenty of time on the ball, which is something I want to put into my game.”