Christian Fox hailed star striker Chris Jackson for his contribution to promotion-chasing Selby Town after his hat-trick in the 100th Anniversary game victory over Hall Road Rangers.
Jackson’s second coming at the Fairfax Plant Hire has been a major success as the local lad has nine goals so far.
His performances have been superb, but Fox says Jackson brings more to the Selby team than what people see on-the-field.
“Chris has been outstanding for us,” Fox told Non League Yorkshire.
“He’s set the levels on-and-off-the-pitch. He’s hardly missed a training session, he’s there all the time and he’s on time all the time.
“He is good to have in the dressing room. He was clinical even he took 50% of his chances, but at this level that is good.
“He’s the type of player we need, the type of character we need. He’s infectious and everyone feeds off him. He’s the type of player we haven’t had before.
“He’s also a leader, he talks out there. He’s a proven winner, he’s won promotions with Pontefract and those types of character are hard to come by.”
Crowds have gone up and up since Fox brought his brand of swash-buckling football to Selby and almost 300 people came out to watch the 100th Anniversary fixture.
Selby cruised to a 4-1 victory and Fox admitted it was almost a perfect display.
“It was brilliant to see such a massive crowd and I hope they all want to come back,” he said.
“It was a great day for the club and it was a comfortable win and it could have even more comfortable if we had taken the three or four good opportunities we had in the first half.
“When we were on it we played some good football. We got sloppy at times and we gifted them a goal which put us pressure for five or ten minutes.
“We shouldn’t have conceded, especially when we had dominated for so long. It just shows that you do get punished when you switch off and make mistakes at this level.
“The only frustrating thing is we didn’t score more goals, but on the flip side it is great that we are creating so many. It could have been double figures. Jacko has got three, but by his own admission could have six or seven.”
Hall Road manager Leon Sewell was not too downbeat after his side’s defeat.
He knew his side faced a mammoth task and he told Non League Yorkshire: “I think we played alright.
“We always knew it would be tough because of the celebrations that Selby are having which are testament to Ralph (Pease), Tommy (Arkley) and Mark (Aldred) first and foremost.
“You have to take your hat off to any club that has run for 100 years.
“We’re our own worst enemy at times, but I actually thought we played some good football times at times.
“For the first goal we have got bored of being on the ball and they have pinched it off us and gone and scored. It is just mistakes and individual errors.
“Collectively as a unit we look alright. But we go again.
“We have scored away from home, even though Selby scored four. I thought Jody (Barford) had a good game and I thought the back four did alright.”