After a career of his own between the sticks, including a spell in the Football League with Barnsley, Worksop Town manager, Craig Parry, knows a thing or two about keeping things safe.

His time at Oakwell would see him battling the likes of Andy Marriott and Ssa Ilic for the number one jersey, Parry having signed professional terms with the Yorkshire club at a young age; however, unable to oust Marriott or Ilic, he would find himself having spells at Halifax and Bradford Park Avenue, Grantham and Harrogate, before lighting up the non-league scene over at Pontefract Collieries.

Currently residing in the Northern Premier League Division West, ‘The Colls,’ under Parry, and his erstwhile assistant Craig Rouse, enjoyed a relatively successful spell in recent times.

Promoted to the Northern Counties Eastern League Premier Division in 2015, Parry and Rouse took the helm later the following season and, although the club would find themselves relegated back to Division One, they would quickly rack up back-to-back promotions, in 2017 and 2018 before, in their first-ever season at Step Four, fall short when finishing runners-up to eventual champions, Morpeth Town, losing out in the play-offs against Brighouse Town.

It would be at Pontefract that Parry’s footballing took its second diversion; having already gone from professional to non-league football, he was now looking at making the transition into management.

“It’s the lifestyle changes, that’s the main difference between professional and amateur football,” explained the Worksop boss.

“In the pros, everything is very focussed on lifestyle and I lived that between the ages of 16 and 22, having played football since I was seven-years-old, then, when I was at Pontefract, I knew that the next career change was coming (from playing, to management).

“It was kind of a weird situation really, but I knew that it was happening because the buzz, for me, had changed, and I was already looking into the coaching aspect of the game at that time.”

That first run at management couldn’t have gone any better really, once the club had overcome relegation that is.

Taking ‘The Colls’ into the Evo-Stik North in double-quick time was a masterstroke not only for Parry and Rouse, but also the playing staff, and his time at Beechnut Lane is a one that both himself, and no doubt the club, will forever hold a fondness for.

“Pontefract was a great learning curve and to get those back-to-back promotions was a fantastic effort,” admitted Parry.

“I love that place, and the people there, and, although it’s not the biggest, it does have a great, family environment, a trademark I’d like to think I helped instil.”

Then came the opportunity to head to Nottinghamshire, and Worksop, although Parry’s loyalty nearly prevented him leaving Pontefract, he believing that it was the right decision to make at that time – mid you, hitting the ground running once there was not an option whatsoever.

It’s late February, early March, 2020, and Parry is approached to take over at Sandy Lane. By the time the ink has dried and the move completed however, the world is plunged into a global pandemic.

“It would have taken a lot for me to leave there (Pontefract), but it was the right decision to make,” insists Parry.

“However, when we got to Sandy Lane, the pandemic hit and I never got to meet people properly for near six months.

“You want to be able to put down your own beliefs, philosophies, your own stamp on things, so I’ve been unfortunate in not being able to do much.”

A former Conference North outfit, as founder members, back in 2004, ‘The Tigers’ spent three years in non-league’s second tier prior to their relegation back to the Northern Premier League in 2007.

Almost returning to that level was to be quickly followed by a financial crisis which engulfed the club and saw them having to rebuild, and for Parry, now, it’s definitely a case of taking Town back to where he, and others, feel the belong.

“They’ve struggled after dropping out of the Conference North previously, and other things happening afterwards, so yes, we want to get ourselves back there,” continued Parry.

“We’ve made a great, positive start to this season but we can’t forget that this will be a rollercoaster season, unlike any other.

“The aim is to win the league, but we know that takes time as well, so we’ve got to build towards that.

“There was no expectations in the cup competitions this season and, when we played Chester, they were just that little bit stronger, fitter than us, but we did put a lot of pride into our town that day.

“It gave us a real boost and showed that we are capable of holding our own at that level.

“This year has been a (tough) transition, next year will see us continue to build those foundations, and then we can work towards challenging, and getting the club back where it belongs, in the Conference/Conference North.

“We are capable, we’ve got the fan-base, and we have the infrastructure in place in order to get the club back there, and soon.”

Following a spate of local, friendly matches in recent weeks, Parry, Rouse and company are hoping that they will be able to return to league action on Boxing Day (Saturday 26 December), when Worksop Town welcome Lincoln United to Sandy Lane in the Pitching In Northern Premier League South/East Division.

*Article provided by Peter Mann (Senior Correspondent).

*Main image @worksoptownfc Craig Parry has turned the Tigers fortunes around this season.