Steve Akrigg relishing chance at AFC Telford
AFC Telford United new-boy Steve Akrigg today urged his team-mates to relish the chance of competing again in the Skrill Conference Premier.
The centre-back is one of two captures that kicked off boss Liam Watson's summer recruitment, alongside Witton Albion winger Josh Hancock.
The 27-year-old was out-of-contract with Southport in non-league's top flight, but played with the bulk of the current Bucks squad at Haig Avenue.
Akrigg is a seasoned campaigner through three years with the Sandgrounders, after then-manager Watson plucked him from Skelmersdale United.
The stopper said: "I am not would you call an old-fashioned centre-half, I am commanding and good in the air but I do like to get the ball down and play.
"Telford are coming up to the Conference Premier and I wanted to stay at the level, as you always want to play in as high a division as possible.
"It's a new challenge for me and Liam knows what the league is all about, I was in the Southport team that finished seventh in his second season there.
"The first priority should be to get 50 points on the board as soon as possible, secure our safety and then look to kick on again from there.
"You can't be scared of other teams, it's important to get stuck in and remember that anybody is capable of beating anybody in the Premier."
Akrigg's last season at Southport was disrupted by shoulder injuries but he was in the team at the time under John Coleman, who replaced Alan Wright.
Martin Foyle has now become the third manager since Watson left last April, with Akrigg pleased to be reunited with his mentor at the New Bucks Head.
He said: "I have worked with Liam before, he has given me another opportunity and I have had the all-clear from the surgeon on both of my shoulders.
"I was operated on to correct dislocations, which put me out of action when I was in the team at Southport and kept me on the sidelines for three months.
"I could have stayed at Southport, but they changed their training patterns to three mornings a week, plus games and travelling to the grounds.
"It's tough on the lads who have a job outside of football. It's practically a full-time schedule."
