Matty Brown reckons the Blues can be the Conference Premier’s surprise package this season.
Last term was one to forget for the club but the 24-year-old defender maintains that is now in the past.
“I think we can really push on this year because everything is in place,” said Brown.
“I honestly think we can be up there and I think getting into the play-offs has got to be our aim.”
Liverpool-born Brown was on the books of Tranmere Rovers and Manchester City before dropping into non-league. Last summer, his standout form for Marine earned him a move into the Football League with Chesterfield.
Brown struggled to break into a side that ended the season as League Two champions and was loaned to the Blues. Injuries and a three-game ban for a moment of ball-throwing madness limited him to seven appearances.
Brown returned to Chesterfield but was not offered a new deal, yet he was close to going elsewhere when Steve Burr called.
Brown said: “There was interest from a few clubs and I got a solid offer from Bristol Rovers
“I was about to sign for them until I spoke to the gaffer and, in the back of my mind, I always wanted to come back and work with him again.
“I knew that once Chester got the reprieve that the gaffer would want to push on and we sat down and sorted things out pretty quickly.”
Brown is an old-school organiser and a tough, uncompromising centre-half – a throwback to the days when defenders bullied forwards. Together with Chris Iwelumo and the super-fit Kingsley James, he brings strength to a squad with a lot of attacking flair.
Brown said: “It’s a hard league and you need a physical presence. I think we maybe lacked that a little bit last season.
“Look at Alfreton, they aren’t the greatest players but they are strong and fit and did very well. That’s what you need.
“With big Chris coming in as well, I think that the spine of the team is looking really strong.”
Brown feels another improvement that could be crucial is the bonding between the squad.
Burr has added some big characters and with the club now training three times a week, Brown believes the Blues will be a much tighter team this season.
He said: “Me, John Rooney, Jamie Menagh and Sean McConville all live in Liverpool and we’ve already got a little car school going.
“Spending more time together definitely helps the lads to gel and that can make a big difference on the pitch.”
