Marwood looks forward to Heed return

[FF News]

Saturday’s trip to Gateshead represents a massive point in our season, and for one member of the Forest Green Rovers squad, it’s an even bigger occasion as he returns to a club he helped take to Wembley last season.

James Marwood made over a hundred appearances for Gateshead finding his way to the International Stadium via brief stops at Team Northumbria, and Blyth Spartans, having originally come through the youth system at Newcastle United.

An exceptional season in a Heed Army shirt last term saw him net 13 times for Gary Mills’ side.

Subsequently he helped them book a place at Wembley, having netted an important brace against Grimsby Town in the play-off semi-finals, but they missed out against Cambridge United in the showpiece event.

On Saturday though Marwood has to put the emotions of returning to his former club and teammates to one side, with such a key fixture facing the team in the fight to book a place in the top five.

“It will be good to go back and see some old faces. It’s a nice club and it’s run well by people behind the scenes,” he said.

“It’s about Forest Green now and I think if we get the three points we’re pretty much there.

“Hopefully we can get the three points and then the Saturday afterwards won’t be as nerve-racking.”

Gateshead themselves are unable to qualify for this season’s play-offs and go into Saturday’s game in tenth place and on 66 points.

An important part of their squad last term, Marwood still remembers the morale they had as a team as they missed out on a place in the Football League by the thinnest of margins.

“Last year the reason I think we did so well is that it was a real tight knit squad. Everyone loved everyone and it is probably the best changing room I’ve ever been in for team spirit,” he adds.

“That’s why we did so well last year. To come up against them this year they’ll still be a tough challenge for us.”

The next two games are going to call on a huge amount of mental strength from the squad as the race for a play-off place goes right down to the wire.

Marwood is confident that Rovers have the personnel available who won’t fear the demands of Ady Pennock team’s next two outings however.

“You’ve got players like (Danny) Coles, (David) Pipe and (Jon) Parkin who have all been there and done it at a higher level,” he continued.

“They come down here and bring their experience down here which makes it easier for us.”

Source: www.forestgreenroversfc.com

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