Town striker Luke Varney has paid tribute to Pipers Vale Gymnastic Club for their prominent part in his recovery from a ruptured achilles that kept him out of action for seven months.
Varney spent a huge number of hours at the club’s well-equipped HQ adjacent to the Gainsborough Sports and Community Centre and even believes he is back to a higher level of fitness than before he was injured in a play-off game at home to Norwich back in May last year.
The experienced forward said: "It’s an unbelievable set-up at Pipers Vale. Our U21 squad uses it quite a lot and I spoke to some of the lads about it.
"For strength and conditioning there’s probably nothing better. I had a lower limb injury and I would have had to wait for about four months before I was strong enough to go on the grass.
"After the first couple of months I was trampolining and all sorts — there’s a video on YouTube that shows a lot of the stuff I did and I’ve got nothing but praise for the people at Pipers Vale.
"You build different relationships when you’re injured. Obviously I got quite close with the physios, Alex and Matt, but it was tough not being around the lads.
"Luke Hyam joined me eventually and we fed off each other, trying to be competitive, and that that helped me out.
"I always had the goal in mind, to get back. It was a tough period but doing something different than being around the training ground helped me.
"The work I put in at the gymnastics centre can help to make me a better player than the one I was.
"I like to think I’ve always had a good leap and win most of my headers but I did the jumping part of my rehab quite early on and even the surgeon couldn’t believe how quickly I’d got it back.
"They thought I would probably lose a little bit of that so for me to get that lower leg strength really pleased them.
"I’ve never really done leg-strengthening because I’ve always played — this was my first serious injury — so I’m hoping it will get me through a good few years yet.
"They used to say 35 was the age but Jamie Cureton is still playing at 40 and banging the goals in.
"I want to play as long as I can — I love the game and I was a late starter because I didn’t sign for Crewe until I was 20. I hope I’ve got a good few years left in me yet.”
Meanwhile, Varney has expressed sympathy for fellow striker David McGoldrick as he continues his own struggle to overcome a serious hamstring injury that is likely to keep him out for the next six weeks or so.
Varney said: "Unfortunately, these sorts of things happen. If I hadn’t been injured the gaffer might not have signed another striker in the summer so it’s swings and roundabouts.
"We’re all desperately disappointed for Didzy, not just me but the entire squad, because he has been a massive player for us. We are in constant contact with him and we’re looking forward to getting him back as soon as possible.”