We are delighted to announce that Liam Tongue has been named our new captain for the 2023/24 season.
The midfielder joined the club from Hyde United in the summer and Tongue could wear the armband for the first time in a competitive match at Ewen Fields against his old side this afternoon.
The 26 year-old is the first captain to be named by Paul Phillips as Lions boss with George Smith having left the club at the end of the season.
Tongue has scored in three pre-season matches and captained the team to an unbeaten friendly campign.
Liam is bursting with pride after being offered the role “It’s an incredible feeling and honour to be leading the players and representing the club for this season. As soon as the interest came about and having a good relation with all the staff I was excited to get the ball rolling. It’s nice to be given the captaincy and the responsibility and as a squad we can be successful this year.”
It will be a new experience for Tongue having not skippered a senior men’s club before but having held the role in junior football “I’ve never been captain at this level in terms of my playing career but in previous times at university and club level growing up I’ve been lucky enough to be captain. I feel my confidence, leadership and overall communication helps me in this role especially inside and outside the changing room and around the club with the fans given my personality.”
Speaking ahead of his return to Hyde Tongue said “It’ll be nice to go back to where I’ve spent a large amount of time being a local lad and see some familiar faces. Obviously from a football perspective we have a job to do and want to kick our season off in the best possible fashion with three points. Games come thick and fast and as a squad all our energy goes into picking up as many points as possible to finish as high as possible in the league.”
Looking ahead to the season the midfielder said “Personal level for me I want to be as consistent as possible and contribute to as many wins as we can as a club. As a club we know what our capabilities are and we want to finish as high as possible.”
“As a club winning the league or play offs is obviously the goal we want to achieve along with every club at this level buts it’s vital we take one game at a time focus on the three points and don’t look too far ahead. A cup run obviously financially massively helps and gives us as players a chance to experience opportunities and grounds we might not ever get a chance again to play against or at.”
“As a squad with lots of new faces we’ve become extremely close and there’s a real good feel around the staff and players heading into the new campaign we’ve got some very experience lads and some exciting young players giving us the best opportunity to be successful.”
Congratulations Liam!
