THE 1874 COLUMN - By Matt Waters

AFTER signing from Winsford United in the 2018/19 season, Callam Gardner has proven to be one of the most skilful players in the North West Counties.

Not only this, but he has also built a superb reputation for scoring some absolute wonder goals - as seen against Congleton Town and Charnock Richard.

When asked what playing for 1874 means to him, he said: “It’s amazing just to be a part of the club, but being a player means so much!

“While I was at Winsford, playing against 1874 was always tough and I loved how Paul Bowyer and Wayne Goodison would set up the team, and I love the fact they always want to play football.

“I want to win things and I always want to give my all every time I put on the shirt.”

Gardner, who’s made 42 appearances for the club, feels that belief in each other made the team successful in the league last season.

He said: “I think that it was the trust we all had for each other that helped us perform the way we did.

“Whether it was the lads continuing to play to a wide man when he hadn’t beaten his full back yet or trusting each other to continue to play out from the back and trusting our style of play would see us through in the last minutes of the game. It even came from the managers playing many of the lads in a different position because they believed in them. We knew we always had each other’s backs.”

Despite excellent performances in the league, 1874 suffered an early exit in the FA Vase at the hands of Prestwich Heys, and when speaking to Callam, it was clear that he wants to go as far as we can in it next season.

He continued: “I hope to win the league next year, retain the Macron Cup and have a good run in the FA Vase, we love a good away day!

“I think we do need to be more ruthless next season. There were so many games we should have come in at half time 5/6/7-0 up and games like Barnoldswick away we should never have conceded 4 but we will work on it.”

Callam believes there is something that sets 1874 apart from other clubs in the Counties.

“The attention to detail and our ability to strive and be better is what separates the club from others. Whether that would be the training, the clips we get sent to us after games or even the work behind the scenes with new kits and collaborations is unbelievable. I love it,” he said.