O'Grady's salute as his playing career goes on

Striker Chris O’Grady has thanked Athletic manager Frankie Bunn for extending his professional playing career.

The big, bustling striker, now aged 32, does still have plenty to offer, but after last season’s disappointment with Chesterfield when the Spireites were relegated from League Two into the National League, his career was at a crossroads.

The phone wasn’t ringing and O’Grady was considering moving full-time into his other talent – renovating properties.

However, Bunn eventually did make contact and O’Grady is determined to grab what could be his final footballing opportunity – secured following a successful summer trial spell - with both hands.

O’Grady said: “To be honest there were no other offers, so this is why I’m so grateful to the club for giving me this opportunity again.

“If Oldham hadn’t come in I could well have been sat at home right now.

“I was given the opportunity to come in for a trial initially, and thankfully that worked out well.

“Every game I play now, I’m trying my hardest to repay that faith the manager and the club have shown in me.

“It’s a nice feeling to be still playing, and still fighting.

“Even when I was in the Championship with Barnsley, they were a fighting team and I enjoyed that, and I did well there.

“That spell there earned me a move to Brighton, and though that didn’t necessarily work out, I still enjoyed myself down there.

“All I want to do is enjoy my football now.

“I have got a family, but I’ve moved around quite a lot with my football.

“Ideally I don’t want to be moving around again in order to enjoy my football, so hopefully it’ll work out here.

“I’ve done well in the area in the past.”

O’Grady’s second spell at Athletic is proving successful so far.

The well-travelled front-man, who previously plied his trade at Boundary Park back between May, 2008 and January, 2010, has impressed boss Bunn, and scored one goal in Athletic’s 2-0 victory at Morecambe.

He will be hopeful of continuing his good form in Saturday’s home League Two clash against fellow high-fliers Newport County.

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