RUFC - Warney 'I just want to play'

Rotherham United striker/cum-coach/cum-jack-of-all-trades, Paul Warne got his first start for the Millers on Saturday at Hereford and capped it by scoring the only goal of the game.

After the match, Warney told MillersPlayer, 'To win one-nil and score the goal means a lot to me.

'We knew Tom Elliott was struggling so was doubtful and I didn`t know if I would be playing or not because the gaffer is known for not liking two little lads up front together and, to be honest, I never thought the gaffer would play me up front with Alfie. So, when he told me I was in I was buzzing.`

After being reminded that it was his first goal for a year, thirty-seven year old Warney said, 'I had a good pre-season last year and started really well and felt good then I broke my leg at Torquay and I never really got over it. Throughout my career I`ve been lucky and have always been injury free and never had any injury that concerned me so I always thought I`d come back. But, every time I started running again I broke down, which is a problem with my age although in my head I`m still twenty. So, it wasn`t until the end of the season I was fit and then the team were doing so well I couldn`t get back in it.

'I`ve trained really hard and done the pre-season with the lads and I knew I was in good shape to play. The gaffer knows how much I want to play, I`m not one of them who is just happy to sit there and pick his money up that`s not me at all.

'My role is player/coach so, if I`m honest, if the team win every week then I have to be happy. But, if I`m truly honest, as a bloke, I still want to play and I don`t want the gaffer to just look at me as a coach. I enjoy playing. I`m not one of those pro`s who doesn`t want to play in the reserves, I`ve played in two already and scored three goals. I just enjoy playing football. Yes, I enjoy the coaching role as well but if Conisbrough came in on a Saturday and the gaffer didn`t want me I`d happily play for them. When I didn`t play at Peterborough I was one angry dog because I thought I should have played and the gaffer didn`t want to play me which I have to respect but it still hurts me when I don`t play.

'I`m not stupid I know I`m in a very privileged position being a player/coach at the age of thirty-seven and the club have been brilliant with me

'Until someone says to me I can`t play, I`m absolutely rubbish then I`ll just keep going.'

Warney - fittest man at the club? I would say so! But, what do you think?

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