INTERVIEW | Danny Parish: "The atmosphere has been really positive"
New Stones striker Danny Parish has spoken on his excitement ahead of the Wealdstone’s first game of the new National League season against Chesterfield at Grosvenor Vale on Saturday afternoon.
“I’m really excited”, said Parish. “It’s been a long wait for any competitive games so to get back out there playing for three points is really exciting.”
Parish netted six times in pre-season and knows he has the foundation to build on: “I push myself as hard as I can, I could have had more goals in pre-season and I know that every chance I miss is a chance to find the back of the net. Scoring six goals was good but pre-season means nothing if I can’t take it into the season.”
New man Parish is no stranger to playing at this level as he was instrumental for former club Maldon and Tiptree in their impressive FA Cup run last season. Parish scored in the shock win at Leyton Orient before defeat to Newport County in the Second Round.
This “taster” has provided the 21-year-old forward with some invaluable experience but he is aware that it will be different to what he is used to. “It’s a different level and a harder level, it’s just going to take some getting used to. I’ve done well so far and getting up to speed with the play.”
Parish, who joined the club alongside Charlee Hughes in the summer, believes that he has settled in well at the Stones: “The lads have been really good and the atmosphere has been really positive.”
“I haven’t played a lot with Ross [Lafayette] yet, but he’s really good with giving advice with any situation, even at training when he’s on the side he gives me helpful advice. Even though we are a different type of player, he’s really experienced and I can learn a lot from him.”
With a positive pre-season behind him, Parish may be in line to make his Wealdstone debut on Saturday: “Hopefully I’ve done enough to start against Chesterfield, if not then I need to look at myself and fight my way into the team which I have no problem doing.
“We’ve done some analysis on Chesterfield this week, we’ve had videos sent through to us and we’ve done our research on them. I won’t say too much on them, we just have to turn up on Saturday, do what we can do and get the three points.”
Interview by Dec O'Reilly
Transcribed by Harry Doel