By Brian Bennett | Photo: Ian Brodie
If Ashington’s game against Garforth Town was Scott Fenwick’s final appearance for the Wansbeck outfit, then the striker has gone out in style.
The Colliers won the contest against the Yorkshire side 2-1 last week with goals from Bryan Taylor and a penalty which was expertly netted by Fenwick.
However, the 36 year-old striker has landed a prime new job with Premier League giants Manchester City as Player Transition Manager and will consequently be moving away from the North East.
Fenwick, who was previously working for Everton, said: “I’ve loved being home in the summer but things have panned out well for me. It’s a good job; a good career progression away from my own football career because I’ve got to look to the next 35-40 years. I’m at that age where my playing career stops and it’s a great opportunity for me to go to Manchester City, who are a massive club. I’ll be going there as the player transition manager. I’ll be working with the academy and the first team so it’ll be the lads who sign professional contracts at 17 – whether they stay with the club; whether they go out on loan, into the league, the championship or go abroad.”
Fenwick has ‘loved his time’ at Woodhorn Lane and had a message for the club and its supporters: “I’d like to say a big massive thank you,” he added, “I’ve loved it. Ian Skinner – the Head of football at Woodhorn Lane – has been on at me for years to come here (Ashington). He had me at Durham as a 17 year old before I moved up the leagues so he knows what I’m about. He told me from day one that I’d love it at Ashington. Obviously manager Marc Ellison and I go back a long, long way and Ryan Donaldson and Liam Henderson are lads who I’ve grown up with. Ryan and I played together as 10 year olds whilst Liam and I went to secondary school together for five years so they are close friends who’ve all had fairly decent careers that they should be proud of.”
He continued: “If tonight against Garforth Town is my last game not just for Ashington but as a footballer, then it’s a good way to sign off with a goal back home in the North East playing in black and white which I love. Twenty years ago I started playing at Gretna in black and white and wore the same colours with Ponteland and Newcastle Benfield and if I finish in black and white then happy days. I’ll be very, very busy when I get to Manchester City so I’m going to get my teeth into work; get my head down and work hard and see where it takes me. If I can play down South, I’ll look to do it – if not I’ve had a good go at it.”
Gateshead-born Fenwick reflected on Ashington’s first league win of the season last week and said: “It was a home game which we controlled and tonight I thought everyone was ‘at it’ from minute one – you could tell from the warm up. The midfield were all working together as one unit; we kept the ball well; we won second balls; we dictated the play and I think that’s what lets us down at times. We have so much of the ball but it’s making the right decisions. We just need to keep that momentum and keep that mentality every game and I think we’ll fly up the league.”
Fenwick had no hesitation in taking responsibility when the Colliers were awarded a penalty last week: “Whenever I’m on the pitch, I’m going to take a penalty,” he said, “I know I’m pretty new to the club and there will be penalty takers already here but I’m an experienced lad and I’m more than happy to put them away. Nine times out of ten I am a striker so I’ll grab the ball anyway. I probably thought that they (Garforth) had watched the penalty shootout against Guisborough at the weekend especially the goalkeeper and when I saw him (the Garforth Town ‘keeper) lean to the right, I thought I’d go the other way.”
Manager Marc Ellison said: “I just want to thank Scott for everything he’s done while he’s been with us. He’s taken on a new job which means he’s moving out of the area. We’ve known about it for a while, but with us struggling for bodies at the top end of the pitch over the last week, he knew we needed some help and he came back in to give us a hand. That speaks volumes about him as a person and we’re really grateful for it. He’s also managed to get himself a few goals while he’s been with us, which is what he does, so I’m sure he’s enjoyed himself!”