New Magpies duo target promotion

Chorley's two new boys - Keil O'Brien and Darren Stephenson - are on a mission to push the Magpies up the Evo-Stik NPL Premier Division table and into contention for promotion, writes Josh Vosper.

O’Brien, pictured alongside Chorley Director Graham Watkinson and Secretary Harold Taylor signing from Mossley, said: "I can’t wait to start. After meeting all the players they seem really nice along with the management staff. Speaking to Garry [Flitcroft] and hearing his ambitions for the club together with my aims as an individual are what persuaded me to move to Chorley."

The 6ft 4in centre half was a first team regular at Steel Park this season and hopes to be playing regularly again in the Magpies side.

"I started off at Manchester United when I was a kid but things didn’t work out for me so decided to move on," he revealed. "That’s when I found my first Non-League club Glossop North End who were in the North West Counties and soon after I signed for Northwich Victoria.

He added: "Age went against me a little bit at Vics as I needed to learn the game more and that’s why I ended up at Mossley. I enjoyed it there tremendously - great people, great club and hopefully it’ll be the same for me at Victory Park."

Darren Stephenson – a player who needs no introduction to Magpie fans - signed on a permanent deal from Southport. The 19-year-old hopes to quickly recapture his early season goal-scoring form.

He said: "I’m very happy to be back at Chorley. Results aren’t going our way at the moment but we’ve got to stick together as a team. I enjoyed my time at Southport but wasn’t getting played as often as I’d like. It’s good coming back, especially playing with a great set of lads. The ambition at the moment is to move us up the table and score goals.

"I started my career playing at Bradford City but sadly got injured and couldn’t play for the rest of the season. Things then changed with the club getting a new manager and other aspects that made me move to Southport. The manager then said I needed games so that’s when I went to Victory Park on loan."

He added: "I’ll be good to get the ball down and play, which suits me. I think Garry is a great manager and he’s told the lads to keep their heads up and eventually we will start winning, which will breed confidence.

"At the moment I think we are one of the best teams in the league to be fair, with great talent in the dressing room. Hopefully we’ll soon push up and get into a play-off spots."