TEENAGE striker Dave Gardiner could be forgiven for having the blues.

After being part of the Haslingden side which went out of business at the end of last season he was then snapped up by UniBond league side Leigh RMI but failed to break into their first team for the opening day of this campaign.

So when Denis Underwood made an approach for the 19-year-old last week he decided to resurrect his career with the Blues of Clitheroe.

And he came across a few familiar faces when he met his new team mates - as four of his former Haslingden buddies had also joined the Shawbridge club over the summer.

"Three or four of the lads are there from Haslingden last season so that was part of the attraction in coming here," said Gardiner.

"But I played at Shawbridge last season with Hassy and I liked the ground and the whole set up at Clitheroe.

"I also get on well with the manager.

"I think we can go places at Clitheroe because we like to play football."

Gardiner joined Haslingden from Rochdale's Youth team after Christmas last year and a hot streak of goals during the second half of the season had a clutch of clubs clamouring for his services when the Ewood Bridge outfit decided to fold.

He opted to join Leigh and despite appearing in all the club's pre-season friendlies he found himself down the pecking order when the new campaign kicked off properly.

"The manager and the lads were brilliant and the training was almost as hard as it is at a league club.

"They played some good football and I was really enjoying my time there," said Gardiner.

"But they have got about six contract players so I wasn't getting in the team and because I wanted to play football both me and the club decided it would be best for me to come to Clitheroe and get some first team action."

He has already settled straight back into the groove with two goals in his first two games and he is confident his new team can have say in the destiny of the title.

"We've just had two great wins and hopefully we can beat Newcastle tomorrow and put ourselves right up there.

"I think we are definitely equipped to win the league if we get the luck."

For the time being he is happy to combine playing semi professionally with studying for a Business Studies degree which he is about to start at Crewe and Alsagers College.

But once his education is complete he would like to carry on his football education in the league.

"I want to get my degree out of the way first and hopefully carry on playing semi pro in the mean time.

"And once I've graduated I can hopefully get back into the league."

Clitheroe will be aiming to become the first team to take any points off Newcastle this season when they take on the league leaders at Shawbridge tomorrow.

Manager Denis Underwood is without the suspended Dave Bennett and there are doubts over the fitness of Andy Taylor and Andy Smith.

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