The confirmation of the identities of the club’s captain and vice-captain generally comes on the eve of the new season kick off, but manager Chris Beech has acted early to name both appointments as he looks for a focused and determined approach from his squad in the coming weeks.
Defender Nick Anderton, 24, who scored twice in his 10 appearances for the Blues, having joined us on an 18-month deal during the January transfer window, will take the captain’s armband whilst centre back Aaron Hayden, 23, who blossomed under the new boss through the second half of last season, will be his vice-captain for the coming campaign.
“I personally think it’s important to elect your club captain and vice-captain as early as you can for any new campaign,” the gaffer told us. “Some managers prefer to wait until the end of pre-season, but I’m keen to buck that trend and empower our group from the very start.
“There should always be eleven leaders on the pitch during a game, but ultimately one carries the armband, and I think it’s a benefit to let everybody know who that will be.”
“To that effect, Nick Anderton will lead as club captain with Arron Hayden as vice-captain,” he added. “Carlisle United have had some great leaders on the pitch over the years and it’s vital that we continue that trend.
“In Nick we have a character that embodies all the key attributes you’d expect from a senior player. Whilst he’s still very much a young man in terms of age, he’s a mature player with a good head on his shoulders.
“He plays with hard work and determination, he echoes that will to win on the pitch I’ve talked about, and he has the ability to carry that relational link between the staff and the players on to the pitch on a match day.
“Again that means our tactical views are echoed and supported with motivation and encouragement for his team mates. Above all else he wants to win football matches.”
“In Aaron, he’s already demonstrated his attributes in his performances last season,” he commented. “His career is only just getting going really, but he’s another that deserves this accolade.
“He displays the right energy and attributes to lead our group, with our without an armband, because he’s another that wants to win, battle for every ball and push and drive the team on, whether that’s us needing to up our game if we’ve dropped off, or to put the foot to the floor to make sure our opposition are well out of sight.
“I’m sure all of our supporters will get right behind Nick and Aaron, as well as the rest of the team, for the coming season, as they both will be doing in return for you.”
