BRAD Roscoe believes Hyde United will stave off the threat of relegation from the Northern Premier League’s Premier Division.
The 24-year-old defender admitted he would not have signed a new contract unless he thought the Tigers would stay up.
Roscoe, handed a new deal until May 2023, said: “That was one of the questions I had to think about when I was offered a new contract.
“It only took me a couple of weeks to decide, but I am confident we will get over the line.
“We have a big few weeks ahead, but beating Warrington Town (Sat, Feb 12) was a massive boost.
“We have 10 league games left and, if we win more of than we lose, we will be alright.”
Roscoe, who was already under contract until May, is considered a key figure in Hyde’s plans moving forward.
And the Colne-based player, who joined the Tigers in late 2019, described the club as a perfect fit as he still dreams of a return to professional football.
He has already had a taste having been a scholar at Preston North End aged between 16 and 18, followed by one year as a professional at Fleetwood Town.
“I had a really good year at Fleetwood and was surprised to be released. I fell out of love with the game and decided to drop into non-league,” he explained.
Roscoe has since played for Ramsbottom United, Glossop and Buxton and combining this with work as a self-employed gas engineer.
He reflected: “I probably didn’t have the same drive as I have now.
“I had been in a professional environment since the age of 16 and hadn’t seen the world outside football when you go to work.
“I would love the opportunity again but, aged 24, it might be too late. Only time will tell.”
Though Roscoe signed for Hyde in 2019, this is his first proper season after two Covid-19 disrupted campaigns.
And he has already scored seven goals from centre back and remains on course to reach his target of 10.
He said: “I have always had a decent scoring record of between four and six each season.
“Now I am older and wiser, I set myself a target of 10 this season. I have seven, six headers and one right foot, and hopefully I can manage another three.”
Roscoe is predominantly a centre half but has played a lot at right back in non-league.
This season he has forged a solid centre-back partnership with Jordan Fagbola, saying: “He has a great wealth of experience, a great player and a great lad.
“We are both big lads and reasonably athletic and, having played right back, I am used to doing lots of hard work.”
Roscoe added Hyde has a really good group, mainly young lads who probably lack experience and have been naive.
“When I was at Buxton, there were lots of senior players, but here I am one of the most experienced, yet I am still learning the game.
“What defines a team is results on the pitch and we have not been good enough. In saying that, though, the building blocks are there.”
Roscoe points to winning at South Shields, who are full time, and beating FC United and Warrington Town as well as a recent draw at Scarborough.
He said: “We have had some good results against the higher teams then struggled against the lower ones.
“Maybe we have been too relaxed in those games expecting to win which you cannot do. I liken our league to the Championship which is described as the hardest league as anybody can beat anybody.
“Hopefully we will all have learned a lot from this season, including myself, and it will hold us in good stead going forward.”
Off the pitch, Roscoe is also in the process of setting up a business aimed at former and current professional footballers to help them move into the gas industry.
“It is the early stages, but there has been a lot of interest. It is about getting the blocks in place for the end of the season when players get released and giving lads an opportunity of a career outside football,” he said.