With seven goals in seven games, and leading scorer in the Blue Square Premier, Chris Holroyd has had a dream start to the new season but he is looking for more.
"On a personal note I couldn't have hoped for a better start, but as a team it's been a mixed start," says the Cheshire lad. "We've had some good performances and a few 'off' ones so we just need to get a bit of consistency going."
Chris joined the club a year ago after leaving Chester City due to a lack of first team opportunities, and it has been a year of progression for him.
"I knew I'd get a lot more football here and I'm delighted I joined," he says. "Last season was probably my best season so far and I think I've progressed quite a lot from last season and my game has come on a lot too, so it was a good decision to come here.
"It was a good season and just disappointing at the end that we couldn't quite make it into the Football League."
Chris suffered personal disappointment at Wembley when he was left out of the starting line-up and only played the last ten minutes, but remains respectful of former manager Gary Brabin's decisions.
"It was the biggest game of the year and what everything had built up towards, and obviously everyone wants to play, but I respect the manager's decision not to play me although it was disappointing.
"Wembley Stadium itself was beautiful. You see it on TV and you wish you could play there, so it was a privilege to actually play there although obviously disappointing to lose."
Chris shares a house locally with some of the players and settled in quickly after his first move away from the northwest.
"The lads are a good bunch and they made me feel welcome so it was easy to settle in," he says. "I'm living in a cottage with Mark Beesley and Courtney Pitt, and Wayne Hatswell was with us too but he's just moved out.
"We've got some very good chefs in the house so we all take our turn to cook and there's a bit of banter about the washing-up, so it's good. The area is lovely and I travel down here with 'Bees', so it all works well for me."
The events of the summer - which saw Brabin sacked, Martin Ling appointed (twice), and chairman George Rolls standing down - created headlines and uncertainty throughout pre-season, but Chris already had experience of similar times at his previous club.
"Chester was quite an eventful club to be at," he notes. "There was always something going on there behind the scenes so I've experienced it before, but a few of the lads hadn't at Cambridge. It was quite disruptive and I think the lads have done well to get on with things.
"We've had a fairly good start to the season considering how interrupted the pre-season was."
Like Danny Potter in our previous feature article, Chris is enjoying life under new boss Martin Ling and feels a passing game suits him.
"Things are going well and everyone's looking sharp in training - I think when you get a new manager everyone steps up another gear and is keen to impress. He says everyone has started with a clean slate and everything's looking well.
"We were a passing side last season too and that was effective for us, and we have a squad full of passing players so I think it's only right that we try to play that way. I don't think we're quite playing the way he wants us to yet, but I think a couple of months down the line you'll be able to see if there's a change."
Ling has stated his desire for Chris to play higher up in the pitch on the shoulder of the defenders and the 22-year-old feels it is paying off for him and the team: "It's hard for me because I want to try to get involved as much as I can in the play, but sometimes you don't need to and I've learned that this season.
"Away from home it's worked particularly well when there's quite a lot of space in behind, but it's not all about the goals for me - I want the team to do well as well.
"I haven't really set a goal target for the season; I'm just concentrating on trying to play well and keeping my place in the team, and if I do that by scoring goals or by playing well then I'm happy either way."
Chris admits it was a "confidence booster" to be handed the number nine shirt at the start of the season by Brabin but he shows no lack of confidence when it comes to taking penalties, with two successful spot kicks already against Gateshead last Saturday and previous club Chester last month.
"As a striker you want to be the one scoring goals and I'm happy to step up and take penalties," says the former Crewe Alexandra trainee. "I feel confident enough that I'm going to score so I'll keep stepping up.
"I know Jai (Reason) was interested in taking the one against Gateshead but there are no hard feelings from him and he was delighted for me to score.
"Last year I took my first one at Rushden. I think Crowy won it and no-one seemed to want to take it so I thought 'I'll do this!' To me, it's another opportunity to score so it's a bonus and I'm excited about taking them, not nervous, and I'm confident I'm going to score."
Last season Chris mainly played alongside loanee striker Scott Rendell, but with Rendell returning to Peterborough at the end of last season and now on loan at Torquay, Chris has found himself leading the line so far this season.
"I'm certainly not a target man!" he admits. "With Phillo (Lee Phillips) getting injured in pre-season we've had to adapt. Me, Crowy and Bees aren't the biggest of strikers so we've had to change the way we play and we can't just lump the ball up when we're under pressure.
"Last year we could do that a bit with the height we had up there, but now we've got to try to work the ball a bit more and I don't know if that's one of the reasons I've been getting more goals but it's worked quite well. I don't think you always need a big man up front; it's a different approach but I think the lads that have played have done really well."
With almost the same squad that finished second and reached the Play-off Final last season, Chris feels we are still equipped to compete at the top end of the table: "Scotty and Bolly (Phil Bolland) are two big misses, but we've got a good squad able to cope with that and Brian (Saah) has come in and looked very good so far.
"I think the gaffer will probably get a few more players in and we should have another very good squad this year," he adds.
"Ideally we can get promoted this season, although I think it will be a lot harder this year with the big teams in this league and the Setanta money finishing. But we'll certainly have a good go at it and if we can get a good run going we could be right in there."
Chris closes with his hopes for a return to the 'fortress' like atmosphere here of last season: "Last Saturday was a good performance at home and we definitely needed that win. Our home form last season was very good and we very rarely let in goals here so it was nice to get that win and a clean sheet, and with two games coming up at home they could set us off on a good run."
--- 20 Questions ---
What person has had the most positive influence on your career so far?
My Dad - he put in so many hours driving me to training when I was younger and I've had a lot of lows in football along with some highs and my Dad has always encouraged me.
Who's the best Captain you have played with?
Possibly Paul Butler when I was at Chester. He had a lot of experience and he was a good captain, but I've played under a lot of good captains.
The best player you've played with and against?
'With' would be Nicky Maynard at Crewe. 'Against' would be Leeds' Jermaine Beckford in the Carling Cup.
Out of all the players who have left United since you've been at the Club (for whatever reasons) who were you saddest to see go?
Aaron Grundy, the reserve keeper last season. He was my travelling partner and he was a good laugh.
What player/team did you admire growing up and why?
The team I support is Man United, and the player I've always admired is Thierry Henry.
What's the funniest terrace chant you've ever heard?
None that you could print here!
Are there any other sports at which you might have made it as a professional?
Probably not good enough to be professional but I was always quite good at athletics.
Your top three sportsmen/women of all time?
Maradona, Eric Cantona and Thierry Henry.
What's your favourite meal and drink?
Nando's, and I only drink water and fruit juice.
What was the last album you bought?
Lil Wayne - Tha Carter III
What was the last film you went to see?
The last good film I saw was Transformers 2.
What car do you drive?
I've got the new Ford Fiesta Zetec S.
Where is the furthest you have travelled to on holiday?
Morocco
In training, does anyone fancy themselves in a completely different position to their normal matchday role?
Courtney Pitt fancies himself as a centre mid in training, and to be fair he's decent there!
Out of all the players you have played with, who has/had the worst sense of style?
There are a few bad ones in this dressing room but Rory McAuley has been coming in for a bit of stick recently.
Which Cambridge United player would you least like to be stuck in a lift with, and why?
Ben Farrell - he's not the brightest spark so we'd probably still be stuck in there!
Which United player past or present would you 'set up' for a 'Beadle's About' stunt, and what would it entail?
I'd love to set up Mark Beesley somehow because he's a bit of a joker but I don't think I would because he'd get me back!
Where is the best place on Earth, and why?
When I'm on the M6 heading home.
What is the one piece of advice you would give a young player?
A lot of people will knock you in your career so you've got to be strong and believe in your own ability.
What's the very best thing about football?
A hard-fought win. There's nothing better than when you've had a tough game and worked hard and come out with a win.
Andrea Thrussell
web@cambridge-united.co.uk
This interview was also published in the programme for the match against Forest Green on Saturday 5th September 2009.
Previous Featured Player articles
Anything to say about the interview? Make your click count for the U's by discussing it on the Message Board!
You are respectfully reminded that any article, as with all content on this website (unless otherwise stated), is subject to copyright and the Official Cambridge United Website must be acknowledged as the original source.
AT090909
