Farsley captain Robbie O’Brien has earned praise from his manager Neil Parsley
Farsley AFC chief Neil Parsley has praised his captain Robbie O’Brien, writes James Grayson (Twitter: @jamesAgrayson).
O’Brien was confirmed as the permanent skipper of Farsley in the summer after his switch from Bradford (Park Avenue) which began as a loan spell last February.
He has scored eight times this season and played an influential role in Farsley’s promotion push and Parsley has been delighted with his captain.
“When Robbie came to the club, he came in with this season in mind,” Parsley told Sports Performer.
“Robbie needed to play football and he wasn’t getting that at BPA. Robbie endured some difficult times last season. We got to the stage where we were struggling to field a side at times.
“The boy is getting his rewards for the hard work that he put in last season and in the summer. He’s a great captain, I’ve got to say.
“His leadership qualities on-and-off-the-field are reminiscent of days gone by in different eras. He gets round people and gets people together.”
Farsley have recorded four straight Evo Stik Division One North victories and are currently in third-place – six points from leaders Warrington and three ahead of favourites Darlington 1883.
After last season’s disappointing bottom half finish, Farsley are back turning on the stylish football that has become a trademark of Parsley’s reign at Throstle Nest and he said: “We have hit a rich vein of form and things couldn’t be better.
“The injury front has cleared and the players are in form and we are playing some really entertaining football. More of the same will do over the next month.
“I think the spectators have got to be pleased with the season because even some of the goals we have scored of late have been really good. It is a joy to watch at times.
“Everybody is performing, the system that we are trying to implement is working. We’re in the play-offs places. That was the brief at the start of the season like it was last season and the season before.
“We didn’t get there last year. We realised in January time that it wasn’t going to happen and we petered out. But, we look like a different animal this time.
“I’m very happy with how things are. I don’t envisage any signings or departures and we have a clean bill of health so at a critical time of the season when we play a lot of games we’re in good fettle.”
Neil Parsley and one of his two assistants Mark Jackson
Farsley travel to strugglers Radcliffe Borough for their league game tomorrow. Radcliffe are third-bottom, but have recently earned some important wins and Parsley admits it won’t be easy.
“I think they have picked up and I’ve seen them twice recently and I saw them against Curzon and Harrogate Railway,” he said.
“They were both at Radcliffe and they’re not bad at home. It is a really tricky one for us. We have to be close to what we have been producing of late to get anything from the game.”