What a difference a change of scenery can make for a player and that's certainly been the case for experienced striker Peter Thorne. Just over a year ago the 35-year-old was seriously considering hanging up his boots after a miserable spell at Norwich, where he scored just once in 35 appearances.
However, Thorne was persuaded to continue his career at Bradford and Bantams' fans will be delighted he did just that after netting 22 goals in 41 games since his arrival in 2007. Indeed, the former Blackburn, Swindon, Stoke and Cardiff front man has started the season in flying form after finding the net eight times already for the League Two outfit. Furthermore, his goalscoring prowess has not gone unnoticed by givemefootball fans after he was named the Fans' Player of the Month for September, and Mark Shail spoke exclusively to Thorne to get his reaction to winning the award.
HOW DID YOU FIND OUT YOU THAT YOU HAD WON THE AWARD?
I was actually doing a bit of work in the gym and Sky Sports news came on and revealed the four divisional winners – I nearly fell off the treadmill, it certainly made me run a bit faster. Obviously I was over the moon.
YOU MUST BE DELIGHTED WITH YOUR START TO THE SEASON?
Yes, things have gone really well for me and I've started on fire. Considering I've also missed a game because of a slight back injury I'm more than satisfied with eight goals. The key to my good start, I think, is having had a full pre-season because I hadn't managed to do that for the last few years. And then scoring a couple of goals on the first day of the season helped my confidence – every striker will tell you that there's nothing better to boost your confidence than scoring goals.
AND BRADFORD HAVE MADE A SOLID START AS WELL?
Yes, we were actually top of the league a few weeks ago but we've let things slip over the last two or three games. We've had two defeats and a draw in the last three matches so we need to get things back on track when we play Accrington on Saturday. Last weekend's draw against Luton wasn't a bad result when you consider than we had a man sent off.
THE CROWDS AT VALLEY PARADE HAVE BEEN IMPRESSIVE THIS SEASON, HAVEN'T THEY?
We're regularly pulling in 13 or 14,000 and that is the best in the division by some way. To have crowds like that behind you is a real bonus but it can work the otter way sometimes when things aren't going well and there are 13 or 14,000 moaning at you – I'm only joking, they've been great.
YOU SEEM TO BE ENJOYING YOUR STRIKE PARTNERSHIP WITH MICHAEL BOULDING?
He's a great lad and we get on really well. He's a fit boy and his willingness to run and work hard is unbelievable. The fact that he scored 20 goals for a team that was relegated last season shows what a good player he is.
YOU'VE HAD A FEW CLUBS IN YOUR LONG CAREER, WHO DID YOU ENJOY PLAYING ALONGSIDE THE MOST?
I actually played alongside Alan Shearer for the reserves when I was a youngster at Blackburn so it's nice to say I've played with the great man. When I was at Cardiff, Robert Earnshaw and I struck up a good understanding during a successful spell for the club so I would have to single out him as my best partner in senior football.
HOW LONG DO YOU HOPE TO CONTINUE PLAYING?
I get asked that question a lot and I always say as long as I can while I can still do a job. When I was at Norwich I considered quitting football because I fell out of love with the game but coming to Bradford has got my appetite back and feel as though we have a squad that can challenge for promotion this season.
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