Andrew Davies keen to stay at Hartlepool United beyond his two-year deal - but only if he's producing the goods

Hartlepool United skipper Andrew Davies is keen to stay at the Super 6 Stadium beyond his current two-year deal - if he can still produce the goods.
Skipper Andrew Davies.Skipper Andrew Davies.
Skipper Andrew Davies.

Davies was one of manager Matthew Bates’ flagship signings of a busy summer, and the defender has helped guide Pools from a relegation-threatened outfit last season, to a on the fringes of the fight for a Football League return.

The 34-year-old former Middlesbrough, Ross County and Bradford City man may not be getting any younger, but he admits there’s life in the old dog yet.

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And he’s even suggested a stay beyond the summer of 2020, when his current deal expires, is not off the table.

“I might be 34 but my body feels young. I really feel like I can keep on going out there. I could run around all day,” said Davies.

“When I have been off from playing I have been looking after myself, maybe that is why i could go out against Salford and play like I did after just four days training.

“I missed a lot of football when I was 23 to about 27, then I went to Bradford, played a lot games, played a lot in Scotland. I hope that three or four years I missed out on in the middle of my career can be added on at the end. I think I will because I genuinely feel good.

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“That is why I came here. I wouldn’t have signed for two years if I didn’t think I could have an impact.

“There is a lot more to come from me.”

When asked whether he really could still see himself turning out for boyhood heroes Pools at 38, the player joked: “I hope so. I might be in goal but I certainly hope so.”

The last seven days has seen a slight revision of many fans’ expectations for Pools this season.
A 3-0 reverse at promotion favourites Salford City was swiftly followed by a tired, laboured looking 1-1 home draw with Aldershot.

Those games have not dampened Davies’ ambitions this campaign, mind.

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“There is no point in settling for mid-table - I didn’t come here for that,” he said.

“I came to get promoted. We will give everything to do that.

“If it happens, then great. If it doesn’t, well at least we will have given everything to try and achieve it. That is what I am demanding from the players as captain and it’s the same message from the manager.

“We have got a team where when you look at the XI, there are not a lot of players I would swap for others. That shows how strong we are.”

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Davies has faith Pools have got the quality and experience within their ranks to get back on track in the fifth tier - starting this Saturday at home to Boreham Wood.

“It’s along, long season. They key is not to get too downhearted when things do not go your way,” he said.

“We have got a good team, we know that. And we are confident that we will pick plenty of points up this season. It is about sticking together and staying positive. That’s the way we will succeed.

“We have got a strong group of boys, an experienced group.

“We have won games and lost games, seen highs and lows all our career. This is nothing new.

“We just dust ourselves down this week and look forward to Saturday.”