Whalley relishes toughest challenge

5:16pm Thursday 9th August 2007

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GARETH Whalley has not had to cope with failure often.

In fact, during his 15-year professional career, the stylish midfielder has become something of a lucky charm.

"I had full-time offers from League clubs but I was impressed with what I saw at Altrincham."

Gareth Whalley

Alty's latest arrival has enjoyed promotion with every club he has played for - a total of six promotions with five different teams.

Whalley even played a major role in one of modern football's true fairytale stories, helping Bradford City reach English football's top flight for the first time in 77 years back in 1999.

It was with Bradford, however, that he also experienced the pain of relegation for the only time in his career, when the Bantams dropped out of the Premiership in 2001.

But it is a feeling Whalley is keen not to experience again any time soon, although he sees his latest challenge as one of the toughest yet.

Speaking exclusively to SAM Sport, he said: "It's going to be a different challenge and probably one of my most difficult, especially as Altrincham are a part-time team playing in a full-time league.

"But I wouldn't have joined the club if I didn't think we could do well.

"I had full-time offers from League clubs and other clubs in the Blue Square Premier but I was impressed with what I saw at Altrincham.

"Colin Little (who Whalley played with at Crewe) told me good things about the club and when I met the manager, his ambitions impressed me.

"He wants Altrincham to keep improving but he wants to do it while playing good football, so hopefully I can help make that happen."

The 33-year-old endured a difficult two years at previous club Swindon.

Injuries ruled him out for much of last season before the arrival of Paul Sturrock as manager meant he quickly became surplus to requirements at the County Ground.

But Whalley is now fit and raring to go and after joining Alty as one of eight summer signings - alongside Darren Tinson, Jake Sedgemore, Chris Lane, Colin Potts, Chris Senior, Matty Berkeley and Cavell Coo - he is ready to enjoy his football again.

He said: "I've not been at the club long but I can see we have some good players.

"It's important that we start games well, get hold of the ball and start to dominate a bit more, rather than letting ourselves get under pressure.

"I believe I can help do that and the fact that I have played with Colin before will make it easier for me.

"It always takes time to bed in at a new club and obviously, I'm a bit short of fitness at the moment.

"But I'm just looking forward to enjoying football again. I had a frustrating time last season and, with this probably being my last couple of seasons, I just want to get out there playing again."

Despite having several offers to remain professional, Whalley was keen to make the move to part-time football with Alty.

Now approaching the end of his career, the well-travelled midfielder is keen to prepare for life after football.

He said: "I'm happy to move to part-time football.

"I've not got a job at the moment so I'll spend a lot of time in the gym. But I'm trying to set up a business abroad over the next couple of years so now I'll have the time to do that.

"I'll be travelling abroad to look at property sometime in the near future and I'll need time to learn a different language so this will be ideal.

"We also wanted to move back to the Manchester area because it's important that we let the kids get settled. The move should be good for me."