Thunder want to strike new deal with Sanderson
Last updated 11:48, Thursday, 02 October 2008
EX-WATH Brow Hornets amateur Stewart Sanderson looks set to step up to National League One next season after being offered a new contract by League Two champs Gateshead Thunder.
Sanderson, named in the NL2 team-of-the-season last week after a superb first full season on Tyneside, has yet to pen a new deal.
But he said: “I’ve been offered one and I’m quite happy at Gateshead. We’ll just have to wait and see what happens over the next couple of weeks.
“Everyone wants to test themselves against the best, and we’ll have to lift our game again in NL1. I’m looking forward to the challenge.”
Sanderson added that he had been “pleasantly surprised” to be recognised in the National League awards.
“It’s nice to get a man-of-the-match award for a game, but to be recognised for a full season is what everyone wants,” continued the winger. “You are recognised as being consistently good for the season.”
He admitted that Thunder’s title success had come as a surprise to the club.
“I don’t think anyone expected it to go that well,” said Sanderson, from Moor Row but now based in Wakefield. “Before the season started we hoped to push for the play-offs and take it from there.
“Even half-way through the season when we were going well, people were writing us off, saying we would blow up soon. We knew we all had to pull together. We’re all good mates and we dug in and got our just desserts.”
