Connor McCarthy hails AFC Telford fans

The on-loan Southport man was brought to the New Bucks Head twice by boss Rob Smith this season and is the club's top scorer with seven goals.

Scouser McCarthy featured 14 times for Southport in the National League last season but a lack of match action allowed him to take a step down – where he immediately captured the hearts of the Shropshire faithful.

The 21-year-old said: "I knew about Telford as a club but it's not until you move there that you see just what a club they are.

"You're surprised by it all – surprised by the whole set-up, the ground and the fan-base.

"It's obvious that they're a massive club and they shouldn't be in this division at all, especially with the fans behind us."

While McCarthy, who moved to Southport from Evo-Stik outfit Skelmersdale United, has suffered with dry patches in front of goal during the season, his infectious work-rate has been a big hit with the Bucks.

The unassuming hit-man insisted he was able to draw the energy from playing in front of over a thousand roaring supporters.

He said: "In pre-season I can't run at all. But when you're out on the pitch it's totally different, especially with the support there.

"They egg you on. On Saturday against Worcester before the first goal I was running on empty but they give you the energy to carry on running.

"I'd never been in a situation like it. Last season at Southport we survived with two or three games to go but it was nothing like it's been this season.

"We all knew we would stay up but we could easily have gone down. The celebrations were great. I loved it personally, and so did the lads – especially the local ones."

The pacy forward was critical of his own game, acknowledging the chances he had spurned throughout the campaign. He added: "But I've set a few up."