Chris Clifford previews #SFD15

What are you looking forward to the most about being involved in the Sheffield Fans Derby?
"These events are always enjoyable and greatly anticipated. Getting to meet up with lads you only get the opportunity to share a dressing room and field with once or twice a year is key. It’s nice to see some familiar faces with a handful of new lads to freshen things up a bit. The thing every Blades player is looking forward to the most though is the kick off and putting all our hard work in training into practice...along with raising a shed load of money for charity in the process."

Why should people turn up on the night and buy a ticket to watch the game?
"I think it’s self explanatory really...a Sheffield derby whether that be at U10s, U18s, amateur, reserve or 1st team level is a game not to be missed! There’ll be some good football played, some hard but fair tackles made, there’ll be passion, determination and bags full of desire to win a game of football. Hopefully it’ll be as entertaining to watch as we hope it will be to take part in."

What does it mean for you to be able to put on your boyhood teams jersey against your arch rivals at the same time as raising money for Charity?
"There’s many ways nowadays to raise money for a charity, there’s bag packing, cake sales, car boots etc, but THIS is the best way possible. Getting the opportunity to play in a professional stadium whilst representing a side so close to our hearts is a big deal. For me, there’s no bigger game in English football than the Steel City Derby so to join this with raising money for charity is a no brainier to want to be a part of."

A crowd of a few hundred people, a Tuesday evening in May under the floodlights at a neutral intimate New York Stadium, on that massive pitch. What is going to be the game plan for your team to come out winners in this derby clash?
"Without wanting to disclose any tactical details, our game plan is purely to score more goals than the opposition. We feel we have goals allover the pitch, from the defenders to the wide men, midfielders to the forwards, we feel every outfield player is more than capable of popping up with a goal. We are looking to play an attacking, exciting style, committing men forward regularly and play for 90 minutes on the front foot. As a squad I feel we have quality allover the pitch and that will be key when it comes to keeping the ball and making the opposition chase it, everyone has seemed comfortable with the ball at their feet so there’s no reason to not trust one another. In training our communication has been top class and everyone seems to want to work hard for the team which will only help us on the night."

Looking at the opposition who/what is going to be the main threat and how will you deal with that?
"Having played with a few of the SWFC lads on Saturday mornings for Sheffield Trinity, I can see that Danny Wilcox will try and dictate the game from CM for the Owls. Our job is to cut off the supply line to him and try and press high up the pitch, but if they break on us it’ll be important to stop Stevie Kitching as far away from our goal as possible. Ian Garrett is an opposition player who will be a key player for them...his versatility is plain for all to see and has potential to cause us room for concern on the night. Neil Tilbrook in goal isn’t bad either for a 50 year old (he won’t mind me saying that), he’s a great shot stopper and our forwards know beating him won’t be an easy task. Olly Heafield up top will be a handful for myself and my fellow defenders, he’s a bit of a throw back forward, big, strong, good in the air but even better on the floor and his partner Damo Thorpe will also cause us problems. Finally, Dale Vella, my defensive partner for Trinity, will play a major part in the game. He’s strong, good on the ball and lives a tackle! His set pieces are second to none and the guy can kick a ball miles!! As a back line we are aware of defending free kicks from allover the pitch which we have worked on at length. But it goes without saying that Dale, along with the other guys mentioned and the lads I haven’t, are all top blokes and regardless of the score at full time, I’ll be the first one waiting for them in the bar afterwards for a chat as they’re all great guys and really good friends, making this event even more special."

What is your sides major threat and what will you personally bring to the match?
"We have quality allover the pitch. Young Rich Caley will always be a threat with his pace and energy down the flanks, the lad will run all day. The partnership of Lewis and Lanzel Reid with SFD debutant and key man on the night Richard Dye in behind them will hopefully get us the goals to give us a good chance of winning the game. Adam Lake and George Thompson will be pivotal in setting the tempo for us in the middle of the park. Defensively we have 2 very strong goal keepers in Max and Rusty with myself, debutant and long time friend Lee Worrall and Delroy Elliott hopefully marshalling the Owls forwards comfortably. Danny Taylor, Raffo, Peter Greaves and Bettsy will provide good quality on the ball and a lot of experience and control in and out of possession. Along with Rich Dye, 2 other guys I’d say for the supporters to look out for on the night are another debutant in David ‘Dee’ Young who will bring all round quality to the midfield and back line if needed, his quality will be there for all to see along with the skipper Tyler Ledger who is a bit of a veteran in terms of the SFD but is a great guy to have around the squad and a top class footballer."

Anything to add?
"Enjoy the game, enjoy the occasion, but most of all let’s raise a load of cash for charity. UTB."