Reece Styche addresses reaction from AFC Telford United fans

The 35-year-old left the Bucks in the summer to join Stratford Town, only to come back to the SEAH Stadium in October to bolster their forward line.

And after a mixed reception online and in person, Styche is keen to prove his worth on and off the pitch.

“When I came on against Alvechurch I said to my partner after the game that I thought I’d got a good reception, and she said I had, other than a minority of people on Facebook or X,” he revealed. 

“I’m off social media so I don’t see any of it, but I’ve heard there was a bit of criticism about me returning.

“In life there will always be people that like you and don’t like you, but I’ve obviously got the gist that some aren’t happy with my age or whatever it is, and I get it.”

Styche added: “I might not be the 21-year-old that people are crying out for to come and rip it up, but we had that last year with Montel (Gibson) and there were long spells where he didn’t score goals.

“My argument to that would be even when you had a goalscorer like him he didn’t get massive figures, and that’s nothing against Monts because we get on really well, it’s not just a case of going out and getting a young lad and thinking they’ll score 30 goals just like that.

“I know everyone wants the perfect signing of a 20-goal striker, but they’re few and far between and cost a lot of money.”

While on the whole he received a warm reception on his first game back at the club, some Bucks supporters voiced their frustrations at his return.

However, that is not something Styche will let impact his game.

“Let’s say out of the 1,000 or so fans at Alvechurch, 990 probably cheered when I got brought on,” he said. 

“Was I surprised at the negative reaction? No, because I know they’re the fans that probably want a young, £700-a-week striker. That realistically isn’t going to happen.

“Equally I wasn’t surprised that the majority supported me, because I know how brilliant our fans can be, and I know they appreciated what I did for the club last year.”

Styche continued: “If I get given an opportunity I will score goals, I’ve done it all my career at levels above this level, at this level, and at international level.

“I’m not a bad person, I add a lot to the changing room and anyone in there will tell you the person I am on the pitch is very different to who I am off it.

“People think I’m this thug almost, but I am how I am on the pitch because I’m a winner, I want to win and that is the be all and end all. I will do whatever I possibly can to make us win, and yes I’ll pick up silly bookings, but I give my all.

“In the 16 games that I’d started after joining last season I think I’d scored five and set up two, and in all of my starts for this club I’ve never lost a game.

“Yeah I might not be everyone’s cup of tea, I might not be easy on the eye for people, and I might rub them up the wrong way, whatever it is I can look at my starts for Telford and know I haven’t lost one of them.”