Sweeney only has time for playing

HE’S about to hit his tenth season in the Hartlepool United starting XI and has racked up 342 appearances for the club.

And even though he’s signed a new contract this week to further extend his time at Victoria Park, Antony Sweeney isn’t considering seeking a testimonial season.

While Ritchie Humphreys is currently enjoying his benefit year at Victoria Park, Sweeney, still just 27, hopes he has a few more years in the tank yet before he is recognised for his service at the club.

“Loosely a testimonial has been mentioned, but more due to the fact that I’ve been here ten years than anything else,’’ he admitted.

“I’m looking at Humps and seeing him moving on to the coaching side of the game now but I’m only 27! It’s only at the back of my mind if I’m honest.

“I see it as something that comes when you are winding down a bit, a bit of a reward, and I hope that I won’t be winding down just yet.’’

Sweeney was due to be out of contract this summer, but has joined the majority of his teammates in signing new deals.

Of the ten players out of contract this year who Pools wanted to keep, only Gary Liddle has yet to sign an extended deal, although Pools still have a year’s option on his contract.

Huddersfield and Southampton were interesed in Pools’ player of the year, but he admitted: “I’m pleased to sort my future out, it’s never an easy time when you are out of contract. But as long as I’ve been there the club has been good to me and showed a real desire to keep me.

“There was interest, little bits here and there, but the club made it perfectly clear they wanted to keep me.

“For a League One club, this one is run really well and we know it’s the club’s way of doing things to wait until the end of the season.

“Now I’m pleased everything is sorted.’’

With 15 goals to his name this campaign, and 51 in total, it proved his most prolific campaign, the 14 he scored in 2004/5 the only other occasion he has reached double figures.

Now, with Mick Wadsworth at the helm, Sweeney is hoping for more of the same and more improvements to his game next season.

“Mick came in last summer and organised the side to play a certain way and it suited us,’’ he said.

“As players, we know exactly what he wants from us.

“We have just had a steady season; in January we were in really good shape, near the play-offs, then we tailed off a bit.

“Look at the points we dropped during the season, games when we were two-up and only ended with a point. We could have been there or thereabouts.

“With the lads we have brought in, a couple of good signings, and the players we have at the club already, we are looking to be in and around there again.

“I was pleased with my season, goals don’t come easy. Scoring is a major part of my game and a part Mick wants from me in the team.

“He is trying to fashion me into being a more gritty player, picking second balls up and keeping play ticking over.

“There’s a lot of improvement in my game to come and I hope Mick is the man to get it out of me.’’

Sweeney was at Victoria Park on Thursday as new signing Nobby Solano was being introduced.

And the midfielder can’t wait to team up with the former Newcastle man in League One.

“Nobby Solano coming in is a good move,’’ he said. “He was offered a coaching role at Hull, so it’s obvious he is more than capable of playing still.

“I’m sure the young lads in the team will benefit greatly, everyone will.

“He may not have the pace and the legs to go past players like he used to, but he will have undoubted quality.

“The Championship to League One is a bit different, teams play more of a pressing game in this division, but I’m sure his quality will get him out of situations.

“I was still at school at the time, but I remember Pools signing Peter Beardsley in 1999.

“It was a massive thing for the club at the time and there are similarities with Nobby signing.’’

* The club yesterday passed the 1,000 mark for season ticket sales since they put them on sale for £100.