SATURDAY SPOTLIGHT: Fenwick settled into the professional game

It’s a big step up from the Northern League to Football League Division Three, but he’s struggling to comprehend just how different it is.

It’s before Christmas, Pools are struggling, taking root to the foot of the table. Fenwick has just moved from Dunston, where he was a prolific scorer and part of a jovial and settled changing room.

After being given a taste of what might be at a rack of other clubs – Leeds, Middlesbrough, Sunderland, Newcastle, Carlisle and Sheffield United – he’s finally there. No longer a part-time player working as a civil engineer, he’s now signed up as a professional footballer.

But something’s not right. The dressing room, he says was “like a morgue”. It was something his new gaffer Ronnie Moore picked up on instantly.

Fenwick arrived with a confidence. Not an arrogance, there’s a difference between wanting to do well and making the most of an opportunity presented and taking it for granted like so many others have, but a fierce determination to impress.

“I’ve took it all in my stride here, it means so much to me,’’ he said. “I first came in and it was a quiet changing room. Do I make a few jokes, cut a few shoelaces to get people going? But I’d only been in two minutes so couldn’t.’’

Fast forward a couple of months. Fenwick, 24, has four goals in six starts for Pools. It’s a record any striker at any level would be happy with.

And he’s part of a confident, loud and raucous locker room.

“The changing room is bouncing,’’ he said. “The spirit is there, it’s a different place for me. When I came in it was quiet, and I’m used to a buzzing changing room and it was like a morgue – people didn’t talk and now it’s the opposite.

“Everyone has come out of their shell and it’s a different environment.’’

Fenwick spent time at Sheffield United this season and scored on trial. He almost signed for Carlisle while he was a Durham City player.

The opportunity to stay in the North-East, close to his Gateshead roots, was right. Aged 24, Fenwick’s had some path to where he is now, and he’s been in pretty good company from his old school.

“I’ve waited so long for this chance. I did well as a kid, got injuries, knock-backs and set-backs and thought my chance was gone – play part-time football and work,’’ he said. “Now I’ve had a taste of it, I’m giving it everything.

“I went to Gateshead when they were part-time, but didn’t earn enough to go in every day. I was getting in from training, lying around and mam made me get my finger out and got into civil engineering.

“I started at Leeds when I was seven, but rules meant I couldn’t train as I lived too far away. Middlesbrough came in, closer to home, Newcastle got a sniff and I was there, went to Sunderland and back to Newcastle.

“Injuries always stopped me – knees and ankles.’’

And he added: “I was at Newcastle with John Campbell, who went to Oxford this season from Jarrow, and we both played in the age group above us with Andy Carroll – he’s not done badly! He was a year above me at my school - Joseph Swan - Gazza went too so there’s some good history.’’

After a trial at Bramall Lane, then-Pools assistant boss Willie Donachie recognised his name from their time at Newcastle together. Donachie and Paul Murray didn’t last long as Pools’ managerial team this season, but they did leave Fenwick as a mark of their football nous.

Paul Baker, Pools’ chief scout, former skipper and striker and Fenwick’s former boss at Newcastle Benfield set things up.

Fenwick added: “I didn’t really want to move away from home, and this was perfect. I’ve only seen Bakes play on his old videos, an old school striker – a bit like I play! Northern League is about playing with your arms and backside and putting yourself about.

“The gaffer has said about non league habits and I think they are good to have. The game at this level is different, but it’s good to have some knowledge of playing.’’

Some respected Northern League watchers claimed Fenwick wasn’t even in the top five strikers at that level.

Perhaps that was the case. But would any striker arriving, from no matter which club or level, at the Football League’s bottom club have a record like Fenwick possesses?

It’s all about attitude and determination and Fenwick has it in spades. Even to the extent that, while he’s become fitter and stronger over the last two months, he’s got to rein things in a bit.

“My first aim was to get in the squad regularly and my friend John went to Oxford and has been in and out all the time,’’ he said.

“I didn’t want that, I wanted to be in every week. I’ve done things on my own, extra work, gym work, fitness classes.

“Then I get wrong for doing too much! I was doing fitness classes, loads of girls there doing metafit classes. Rest days are there for a reason, to sit in, do nothing and ease up. But I feel if I’m not going to the gym I’m doing something wrong.

“This week, my rest day was about doing nothing at all, feet up and telly on. It’s different for me.’’

He added: “I’ve always had a good diet and looked after myself, but I’ve lost weight since I came here. You have to be a bit heavier in the Northern League to be able to look after yourself!

“The first 20 minutes against York on my debut was hard, the pace of the game.... Then I scored, then the next 20 minutes felt like a full game until half-time. Then in the dressing room I was sucking the air up.

“Against Morecambe, it was the first time I’ve had any negative comments and I read a few things – Fenwick’s a non league player and out of his depth and stuff. I like to prove people wrong.

“Just because I’ve had a few good game now it doesn’t mean I’ve made it. I’m confident I will score goals, right place right time.’’

And, should Fenwick ever get carried away, he would soon be brought back down to earth by his family and his boss.

Fenwick says Ronnie Moore is of the same ilk as his dad and granda. Praise on one hand, reality check on the other. Bouquets and brickbats.

“When the gaffer came in, I wasn’t sure if he liked me. He pulled a few of the lads over one on one and didn’t do it with me so it made me wonder,’’ said Fenwick.

“The gaffer here is great. If we won 5-0 and I scored five he would bring me back down to earth. Just because we won last week he brought us down a level and that gets the best out of people – confidence and praise is good, but now it’s about another game coming up.

“I found it hard because Paul Murray signed me, so he liked me. Then a new gaffer comes in, and does he like me? I had to do enough to make sure he did. Am I trying too hard? You start to worry a bit, but then he has said nice things about me which gives me a lift.’’

He added: “I’m not one to keep quiet, but he’s good with me. I’ve had a few good games, but he will pick out some bad things as well to bring me down to earth.

“He’s an old school manager, but he has a fun factor with it too. He will drop a joke in and then seconds later tell us something strongly.

“My dad and grandar were the same. I was playing in the FA Vase semi-final for Dunston, I scored five and got man of the match, me dad was saying I should have scored seven! It brings me back down to earth.

“I’ve scored four in six for Hartlepool and it’s not bad. But I should have had more.’’