Russell Penn on his first week with the club
Trinity School Year 10 students Sophie Mason and Will Stuart have been meeting the players this week and they managed to grab a quick word with midfielder Russell Penn ahead of training on Wednesday morning.On his thoughts on the club so far, he said: "Really good first impressions. The stature of the club is massive in terms of the league they’re in, and we’ve got to make sure we make that count when it comes to where we want to be at the end of the season."
With regards to his aims for the season ahead, he told us: "I want to play as many games as I can, help the team to improve on their position from last season and chip in with a few goals.
"The reason I came here is because it's a team that wants to push on and I want to play my part. I was offered a new contract at York where I finished off last season but for me it was always important to retain my position in the Football League.
"I really enjoyed it at York. They were good to me and, who knows, if they'd stayed in the league I might have still been there. Things change though in football, especially at this level, but I'm a Carlisle player now and I can’t wait to get started.
"Fortunately Carlisle were really keen. I met up Keith Curle a couple of times and it speaks for itself really. He told me his ambitions of where he wants to be this season and how he's going to move the club forward. I was on board, so after the meeting and the conversation it was a no-brainer."
Speaking about the areas he would like to improve this season, he told us: "As I said earlier, I want to score more goals. I haven’t chipped in with as many as I would have liked to over the past couple of seasons so that's an area I want to work on.
"Fortunately Carlisle were really keen. I met up Keith Curle a couple of times and it speaks for itself really. He told me his ambitions of where he wants to be this season and how he's going to move the club forward. I was on board, so after the meeting and the conversation it was a no-brainer."
Speaking about the areas he would like to improve this season, he told us: "As I said earlier, I want to score more goals. I haven’t chipped in with as many as I would have liked to over the past couple of seasons so that's an area I want to work on.
"Other than that I just want to give 100% in every game and help the team improve."
A move to a new club obviously means getting to meet a host of new team mates and he revealed that he had settled quickly through the first few days of training.
"The lads have been fantastic," he commented. "There are a few more experienced players than my last club, which always helps. I’ve played against them many a time and we’ve had some battles in the past. There's a bit of banter there but hopefully we'll come together to take the club forward."
"The lads have been fantastic," he commented. "There are a few more experienced players than my last club, which always helps. I’ve played against them many a time and we’ve had some battles in the past. There's a bit of banter there but hopefully we'll come together to take the club forward."
His final word was on his excellent showing through the early pre-season tests.
"Midfielders are always up there in general," he said. "I’ve played a lot of games in my career and I like to get through every day in pre-season as it puts you in good stead for the rest of the campaign.
"It's one of those things where there aren't too many people who enjoy it until the balls are out. You just get on with it and get through it and, if you put everything into it all, it will put you in good stead."
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