Christmas cheer

As part of skysports.com's League Two Spotlight, Chris Burton catches up with Aldershot midfielder Scott Donnelly.

Last updated: 25th December 2009   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Christmas cheer

Donnelly: Turns 22 on Christmas Day

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Ask any footballer what they are hoping Santa Claus leaves under their tree this Christmas and the reply will probably be 'three points'.

This suggests that professional sportsmen may be among the easiest people to shop for in the country, as they do not actually want something tangible.

I wonder how many of them actually woke up this morning to find that their loved ones had taken this message a bit too literally and decided to give the high street a wide berth.

Why bother wasting your hard-earned time and money on Xboxes, digital camcorders and festive socks when your efforts will not be appreciated?

I am not sure, though, that the Lapland workshop is currently in the business of producing much-coveted victories for random football teams, so perhaps our sporting heroes will get some presents after all.

Imagine how disappointing it would be to find yourself empty-handed on Christmas Day, and then experience the same emotions 24 hours later after taking a good hiding when the fixture list resumes on Boxing Day.

Perhaps then it is best to hedge your bets, not hold out too much hope that the festive period will bring plenty of cheer and goodwill to all men and pray that your wish list reached Santa before he started warming up Rudolph and co ahead of a busy night's work.

After all, should it not be taken for granted that all of us want three points for Christmas?

We want the same thing every year, and many of us have learnt to live with the crushing disappointment of seeing those dreams shattered on a regular basis.

Some, though, appear to have a better chance of seeing their calls answered than others.

When growing up, having your birthday fall around the festive period must be a nightmare, as your parents are bound to try and combine the two celebrations into one big party.

However, once old enough to not really give a hoot, this situation plays perfectly into your own hands.

Wishes

You are now free to write off one of the occasions, wasting your three points wish in the process, and still have enough room left over to actually request something useful.

That is precisely what Aldershot's Scott Donnelly will have done this year, with the highly-rated midfielder set to turn 22 today.

Having helped to steer the Shots to within touching distance of the League Two play-off places, he is desperate to see that momentum carried into the New Year and as such has reverted to type when it comes to Christmas wishes.

"We wanted to reach the play-offs at the start of the season and we have had a very good year," he told skysports.com's Chris Burton.

"At the moment we are only about a point outside the play-offs, so if we can win on Boxing Day (against Barnet) it will put us right back in there."

Donnelly can be forgiven for adopting his Grinch mask as the Shots have surprised everyone with their impressive progress this term.

Having only secured promotion into the Football League in 2008, they were not expected to be among those pushing for a place in the third tier.

Donnelly added: "I think we were favourites to go down this season, but we knew that wouldn't be the case.

"This year we have adapted a bit better, because we had a bit of a fall down the table in the last six months of last season. We have to make sure that doesn't happen again and we could end up finishing quite high this season.

"You do start to get a winning mentality, and that does help. When you are playing badly you know you can still win games and that helps.

"I think there is a very good opportunity for the club to get into the play-offs and that would be good for the supporters because they have supported the club really well.

"Obviously Burton the other day (a 6-1 defeat in their last outing) was a bit of a disaster, but we feel we can beat every team in this league. I don't see why, especially at home, we couldn't turn anyone over."

Difference

Aldershot's progress is even more remarkable given that the club actually folded in March 1992 after experiencing financial difficulties.

Reformed as Aldershot Town later the same year, they started their second life in the Isthmian League Division Three.

It did not take them long, though, to start climbing the ladder and they forced their way back into the big time after taking the Blue Square Premier title in style, with Donnelly grabbing what proved to be the promotion-clinching goal in a 1-1 draw with Exeter.

"I think the fact that all the teams in the Conference are now pretty much full-time helps to make it a bit less of a shock when you do get promoted," he said on life back in the Football League.

"It definitely makes a difference. You know you are going to get midweek games and you know your body is used to doing it. It's a big help."

Gary Waddock was the architect of the Shots' climb out of the Conference, but was lured away by Wycombe in October after seeing his reputation rocket.

Donnelly admits losing the highly-rated coach was a big blow, but he feels current boss Kevin Dillon has slotted seamlessly into life at the Recreation Ground.

"All the lads got on really well with Gary, and he had us playing a good brand of football, but it is a big opportunity now for Kevin and he is doing well," he said.

"It's his first managerial job as well. But he has started quite well, we have had a fair few good results, so if that continues we should be there or thereabouts."

Donnelly is also forging quite a reputation, with seven goals to his name already this season.

"I have always thought of myself as a player who is capable of scoring goals and wanted the opportunity to do it at a higher level, and at the moment it's working out quite well," he said on his fine form.

"We only play with one up front, so if you have got goals from midfield it certainly helps."

Fantastic

Donnelly is also enjoying his football again, having experienced something of a rollercoaster ride in his short career to date.

He initially burst onto the scene as a 16-year-old prodigy at Queens Park Rangers, but saw injuries take their toll during his time at Loftus Road and he was eventually released.

Refusing to give up on his dream Donnelly joined Wealdstone in 2007, where he was able to restore his reputation, earn a move to Aldershot inside six months and ultimately return to the League ranks.

He said: "It's fantastic at the moment. I'm enjoying myself every day, in training and every game.

"What happened at QPR was horrible. Towards the end of it I wasn't enjoying myself at all, so it's nice to be enjoying football again."

On the experience of having to drop into the non-league, he added: "You realise that you don't want to be back down there.

"Now we are back in the League we don't want to end up back in the Conference or non-league again. You just want to stay here."

Staying here is also likely to mean Aldershot, as despite the fact his contract is set to expire at the end of the season, Donnelly is keen to remain with the Shots for the foreseeable future.

"I'm happy to stay. Hopefully, if I keep playing well, contracts will come up. If they don't, they don't, it's just one of those things," he said.

"If I was just sitting on the bench, not really getting on, then it would bother me a lot more. But I'm playing every week and getting goals, so hopefully I can get a contract from playing really well."

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Comments (1)

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Tony T. says...

Merry Chrismas and a Happy New Year to all. Good attitude by Scott Donnelly. If more people would pick up the pieces instead of moaning and do something constructive with their life like Scott. Well done Aldershot. His strength can only bring confidence to his team-mates. Loss of a popular coach can be a upset, but helping a new man settle is a big asset to a club. Transition of new ideas may be tricky but if heeded will be beneficial to all. Scott has that quality. Good luck Aldershot.

Posted 11:48 25th December 2009
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