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Sam Heap


Coach hopes to pulHiis bootson


S tr iker Sam Heap was forced to put his playing career oh the back-burn­ er after sustaining knee damage when returning from a 10 month spell with VancouverWhitecaps' Academy.


But everi after undergoing WillJamesfightsfortheballasClitheroegodowntoa2-OdefeatathometoOssettAlbiononSaturday. PictureiAndrewSmith ■ ''ST 0 : Follow@DanBlack84 ; -


ByDanBIiACK ' . ’ ' - daniel.black@jpress.co.uk


.T ' • I t ’sclearthatnewClithe-


ro e FC f ii^ te am c o a c h S a ih Heap has blue blood coursing through his veins.


The 28-year-bld’s passion and ambitionsuggestsaninextir- pable affiliation with the club;


^


a decisive factor in Blues boss- SimonGarnerofFeringthepo- sition of first team coach;


% ' ’ Heaplefthispositionasde- velopmeht sqiiadhead coach ; with North West Counties'


.


First Division outfit Nelson to return to Shawbridge where: he began his senii-profesMon- al career in 2007. “I love the club, love the


fans and love the stadium,” he said. “It was my first semi- - professional club I played at So it brings back meniories. I’ve got a great rapport with eve­ rybody here so Ijumped at the chance to come back. This is where it alTbegan for nie so I want the best for the town and the team.” Heap has endured a harsh baptism of fire since rejoining


the Kibble Valley ranks, with the NewYel^dishingup a 6-0 thrashing against Daflirigtoh 1883 and a 2-0 defeat on home soilagainstEvo-StikFirstDivi- sion North basement side Os- sett Albion.


"• However, Heap has the vi­


sion andunderstariding to see that the renioiilding of the club is a work in progress: “We couldn’t defend for tof­ fee against Ossett and it was


justoriebfthosegames.Itwas ■ a bad day at the ofiBce for us.


“We know we are a young side, and we know there’s a


lack of experience, but the


' lads are leaning all the time. We’ve got a'young nianage- ment team as well but we’ll all get to where we want to be


together. We’ve definitely got the ability.” Heap added: “I came in be­


cause Simon wanted to keep the club hungry and ambi­ tious by building a team of Id­ eal lads. I’ve been tasked with the coaching aspects at the club and looking after train- • ing which I love doing. We don’t see any point in signing ■ veteran players who want a


. pay cheque and theii move on


withoutacarefortheclub. We wahta cbnimitted ebre tb the


squadthatiswillingtofightfpr ClitheroeFC. “I’ye got a lot of knowledge of the local game. I played at


North West Counties level for a number of years and done plenty of coaching as well so I know many players around r the leagues. “Simon knows the higher ;


echelons as well so we both have contacts. I think we com- ■ ^ plementeachotherperfectly.”


"multiple surgery, having 16 months out, and being tbld he’ll never play again, Heap’s determined reha- bilitaUonprocess has given him hope of a return.


. , : . “It’s fiiKtrating because I just want to get out there and contribute,” he said.- “I still have-hopes of featuring at some point


. but I’ve reined the playing side in a bit to focus on my coaching and I’m enjoying the challenge. • “The club is certainly


: developing and we are am- T b it io U S . : : : ,


“My playing days might be coming to an end but my


T coaching days are onlyjust beginning.”


; i T Clitheroe travel to face Harrogate Railway Athletic on SatuWay, kick-off3 p.m.


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