Returning Dabber Sean Cooke is elated with his return to Nantwich Town for a third spell at the club, writes Richard Scott.
Cooke joined the Dabbers last week from FC United of Manchester.
He had previously played for the Dabbers between 2011 and 2013.
His second spell came when he joined on loan from AFC Telford United in February last season.
Cooke said: “I’m absolutely delighted to be returning to Nantwich.
“When I spoke to Phil [Parkinson] it was the only place I wanted to come to be honest.
“I’ve been to a couple of Nantwich Town games this season and they play some really attractive, attacking football.
“I think that will help me as it suits my style of play and I will try and help the team when I am needed.
“At the end of last season, when I was there, the lads were playing that way, too.
“Full of confidence and to me it’s no surprise that the club is right up there in the league table.
“The way they get ball on the ground and play with a quick tempo, that makes it so hard to defend against, that is one of the reasons why I am so pleased to be back at Nantwich.”
Cooke might be a fans favourite, having featured in the 2012 Cheshire Senior cup final, which Nantwich won 1-0 against Stalybridge Celtic – and the 1st round proper FA Cup tie against MK Dons.
But the son of former Dabbers boss Dave Cooke knows it’s going to be tough for him to get in the starting 11.
“We have a number of quality players in the squad. I have to knuckle down in training and when a chance comes I’ve got to try and take it.
“But I know it’s going to be hard and I’ve got to be patient as there is some real quality in this side.
“Just look at the midfield – where you have Elliot Osborne, Sam Hall, Chris Smith and Matt Bell among others.
“In every department throughout the team, there are some excellent players and it will be tough to get in.
“I will stay patient and help the lads whenever I can, either from the bench or if I get to start.
“I realise there is real competition for places and where I play, midfield, the competition and quality is fierce!
“But that’s why I am here, I want to be part of Nantwich football club.”
Cooke was away from Weaver Stadium for two years when he joined AFC Fylde where he helped win promotion to the Conference North before joining Conference Premier side AFC Telford United.
However, it didn’t work out at Telford and he made his return to Nantwich last season in the 1-0 victory over Halesowen Town at the Weaver Stadium.
He played in another 12 games as he helped the Dabbers secure their Premier Division status.
Cooke said: “I was happier towards the end of my loan spell than I was in the beginning of my spell.
“I hadn’t had as much match time as I wanted at Telford so my fitness and general match form wasn’t where I wanted it to be when I first joined last season.
“Towards the end of the season I was happier because I was fitter again and starting to express myself a lot more then what I was doing when I first came from Telford.
“Hopefully this season I can hit the ground running and help keep us near the top of the league.
“It’s been a great start to the season and we just need to keep it going now as we enter the Christmas patch, which is always a tough fixture list and we have four hard games in 15 days.
“If we can come out of that with a good number of points then we can really start to push for top four or even better.
“But we know that we have along way to go this season.”
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