Manager Paul Cook sat down with the media on Friday morning to preview the fixture against Notts County at Meadow Lane on Saturday afternoon.
First, Cook paid tribute to Tyrone Williams, who has announced his retirement from football after over four years with the Spireites. He said: “From being in that place in Swindon, in the hospital, probably just over 12 months ago, to see him actually return to training and try his best to resurrect his football career with such courage was amazing to watch.
“For me, as his manager, more than anything, it was just to see him return to being the lad he was. That was always the most important thing for me.
“We’re lucky to have a special club, Tyrone knows that, our fans know that, the owners know that, and I’m sure we all feel that. Now and again, little moments like this bring you closer together.”
Moving on to how preparations for Notts County have been going, Cook explained: “We look forward to playing Notts County. We’ve got a healthy rivalry, especially in my time over there. For the four years I’ve been back here, they’re always good games. They don’t need any billing.
“I look forward to playing the game in a really good, competitive way. They’re an outstanding football club themselves, run very well, really got a bright young manager, coach doing exceptionally well, got a good team, be a big crowd, same as us, all striving for the same stuff.
“But for us, we’ve got to make sure we get in the play-offs. If we didn’t make the play-offs, that would be a massive underachievement, without a shadow of a doubt, and that would be on me.”
The Spireites will be looking to bounce back from last weekend’s 3-2 loss against Shrewsbury Town. Reflecting on the loss, Cook explained: “I’m sure someone said I’m coming up for 1,000 games soon. I’ve never seen us lose a game like that.
“I work with these lads every day. They’re an absolute credit to the club, how hard they work, yet we’ve done things wrong, and I include myself in that. If we can keep playing like that, I’ll be a happy manager, trust me, I will. Because I’ve seen us play a lot worse than that and win, that’s for sure.”
Finally, Cook reacted to Adam Lewis’ loan move to AFC Fylde, saying: “Brilliant for Adam, he’s been training ever so hard and I’ve been watching him be disappointed at not being selected to be a sub even.
“Watching him then put himself back on the training ground, giving everything he’s got. It’s tough as a coach or manager – watching lads disappointed at not playing is probably one of the toughest things.
“If we need Adam, he can come back to us and help us with our fight for the rest of the season, and it gets Adam some games at a really good football club. It was just a tick-tick for everyone.”
