GOALKEEPER Dan Atherton says he is relishing his non-league experience so far with Northern Premier League side Warrington Town.
Atherton had been a target for manager Paul Carden for some time before finally making the move to Cantilever Park.
The 21-year-old progressed through Liverpool’s academy, and had originally trained with the Yellows ahead of the 2020/21 season before taking opportunities abroad.
He went on to play in Spain and New York before returning to England and signing with the non-league side ahead of the 2021/22 Premier Division season.
“I’m loving it,” Atherton said. “Honestly, I’m really enjoying it.
“I’m playing games consistently – we’re now eight games unbeaten and the clean sheets keep racking up. There’s not a negative word I can say.”
He jokingly added, “I’d like to score a few more goals,” revealing he has had two shots on target so far this season from inside his own half.
Atherton has shown real promise so far this season, keeping 12 clean sheets in all competitions. He could well make his way up the football pyramid in the near-future, if not with Warrington.
The ‘keeper had a loan spell in Marine back in 2020, made his Liverpool first team debut as a striker for Jurgen Klopp in a 6-0 thumping over Tranmere at Prenton Park.
For now, the keeper, who made his Liverpool first team debut as a striker for Jurgen Klopp in a 6-0 thumping over Tranmere at Prenton Park, admits he’s enjoying life playing in front of 500 fans each week in non-league.
“Fans have been amazing,” he said. “I do have to say, my favourite part of it is the fans.
“It’s so close. They’re on top of us as players. I’ll interact with them and it gives you that atmosphere and the fans, home or away, drive us to do better.
“It’s an added bit of determination to keep a clean sheet. It is one of my favourite parts of this level. I love the interaction, good or bad. It’s all a part of the game.
“Nothing will hurt my feelings, I probably rely on them giving me a bit of stick. Having two sets of fans so close to me, you don’t get that at the top level.”
Atherton was speaking to Spoxio, the leading sports networking app connecting aspiring athletes, club officials and scouts across the globe.
