Magpies star Whitham hailed after joining the 300 club

Chorley's Dale Whitham has just played his 300th game for the Magpies and boss Matt Jansen hopes there are many more appearances in the famous black and white strip to come.
Dale Whitham with manager Dale WhithamDale Whitham with manager Dale Whitham
Dale Whitham with manager Dale Whitham

Whitham, 25, joined the club from Leigh Genesis in 2010 and racked up his 300th appearance in the Magpies’ 2-1 home win over Kidderminster Harriers on Saturday.

That ‘huge’ result sees the Magpies fourth in the National League North table as they bounced back from a shock 3-1 defeat at Boston to beat the third-placed Harriers.

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And Jansen says Whitham is a brilliant servant for the club.

He said: “Dale has been brilliant. I told him the last two or three games you have looked fatigued, he didn’t train on Thursday but he came back and gave a fantastic performance against Kidderminster.

“He is fantastic, he has been a brilliant servant for the club and he hopefully will be for the foreseeable future.”

Striker Jack Sampson picked up a bang in that Harriers win but Jansen hopes it was just a bruise ahead of their LFA Challenge Trophy semi-final against Ashton Athletic at the County Ground tonight and a home league clash with Alfreton on Saturday.

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Jansen said: “Jack had a big bang to his metatarsal hopefully he will be okay hopefully it is just a bruise.”

Paul Jarvis went straight into the starting line-up against Kidderminster after returning from his 28-day loan spell at NPL First Division North leaders Lancaster City.

Jansen says that his return is the perfect example of the team mentality at the club.

He said: “Paul Jarvis just shows that it does not mean if you are going on loan or if you miss games that you are not going to be back in the fold and that is a perfect example.

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“It is a team in there not just the 11 and there will be changes throughout the season and there will be people starting games, missing games.

“Andy Teague missed out against Kidderminsterbut he was great again giving support to the lads but he will be back in I’m sure in the next game or the game after that. It is about 17, 18, 19 in there and we all stick together.

“That is why we are where we are, we are doing fantastically well and it is a massive three points.”

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