Christy Pym says he is determined to maintain his impressive start to the season and help Grimsby Town return to winning ways when the Mariners host Northampton Town at Blundell Park on Saturday.
The goalkeeper has been one of Town’s standout performers in the opening weeks of the campaign, producing a series of important saves and delivering consistently strong performances between the posts.
After a difficult spell last season, Pym spoke openly about his determination to rediscover his best form, the importance of remaining level-headed and the support he has received from Mariners supporters since returning to the side.
On his start to the season
Pym has been pleased with his performances so far but insists his focus remains firmly on the next game, rather than getting carried away by individual displays.
“I’m pleased. It’s still early days, and I’m just trying to take it week by week,” he said.
“Steve [Croudson] and I sat down and spoke about not getting too carried away with anything and just taking it game by game.
“For me, it’s always been about being solid. When I was a young pro trying to make my way in the game, Paul Tisdale, who was the manager at Exeter, always told me to be a seven out of 10 every week. That’s what a manager wants.
“Last year, I wasn’t that, and that’s what I want to get back to this year.”
The 31-year-old was candid about the challenges he faced last season, admitting he was frustrated with his performances and eager to get back to the level he knows he can produce.
“I know when I’m not playing well and when I’m not at my best. I’m my own worst critic,” he explained.
“I knew last year, playing with an injury, that I wasn’t performing. There was no one more frustrated than myself. I just wanted to get back to being myself.
“I feel good at the minute, so hopefully that continues for a long time.”
On his journey over the past 12 months
Pym’s return to form follows a challenging period that saw him struggle with his performances before an injury kept him out of action for several months.
During that time, Jackson Smith came into the side and impressed, with Pym recognising the importance of supporting his teammate while working towards his own return.
“It’s been good, tough, and good,” he said.
“When I first signed here, I really enjoyed it and the way it started. Obviously, the Manchester United game was a massive highlight.
“Then you hit that tough period of personally poor form, which coincided with the team’s poor form, and that doesn’t help. Then there was the injury and Jack coming in and being absolutely amazing, to be fair to him. He was really good.
“You’ve just got to sit there, wait and bide your time, and try to be the best professional you can be. When I got back fit, I knew that, with the way he was playing, I wasn’t going to get put straight back in.
“It was about asking how I could help him and how I could help the team. If that meant having a quiet word with him at half-time, using my experience to help him settle, then that’s what I chose to do.”
Pym was also made available for transfer during the summer, but remained determined to fight for his place at Blundell Park.
“I understood the gaffer’s decision and his reasoning behind it. We had an honest chat, and I get on really well with him. I enjoy working with him.
“I knew I hadn’t performed last year, so there was nothing I could say other than accept his decision. But I wanted to prove him and everyone else wrong, and show why I’ve had the career I’ve had and played the number of games I have.
“I just said I was going to take it day by day, train as hard as I could and, whenever I got the chance to play, do everything I could to stay in the team for the next game.
“I still felt I had something to prove here and something to give.”
On dealing with criticism
The goalkeeper also spoke honestly about the criticism he received during his difficult spell, explaining that while experience can help put things into perspective, poor performances inevitably take their toll.
“You wouldn’t be human if you said it didn’t affect you, that you didn’t hear it or notice it,” he said.
“I certainly did, but I also felt the same about myself during those periods, especially last season.
“This year has been about trying to prove those people wrong and show the Grimsby fans why I’ve played nearly 500 league games and had the career I’ve had. It’s not because I’m a bad goalkeeper; I just had a bad time of it last season. Everyone goes through it.
“I want to get back to showcasing what I can do, and I think the supporters deserve that because a lot of them have stuck with me and been great.
“The support I’ve received recently, since I’ve come back into the team, has been brilliant. I want to give that back to them as well.”
Pym added that having a family and greater experience in the game can help him manage the highs and lows, but admitted difficult periods can still affect life away from football.
“I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t in the car on the way home after a poor game, berating myself, getting frustrated and angry. It wasn’t a good time, and it probably wasn’t a good time for my family either.
“Now things are going well, it’s about trying to stay on an even keel and remain level-headed.”
On the support from Mariners supporters
Pym has been warmly received by the Blundell Park faithful since reclaiming his place in the side, with the goalkeeper admitting the backing he has received has been particularly meaningful.
“I’ve never been at a club where I’ve been applauded for making a save in the warm-up,” he joked.
“But it comes from a good place, and I appreciate it. I feel like the tide is turning, and I want to give something back to the supporters.
“They pay their hard-earned money to come and see people perform and play well for the club, and that’s what I want to do.”
The goalkeeper produced another impressive display in last weekend’s defeat at Port Vale, making several important saves, including a fingertip stop that sent an effort onto the post.
Despite his individual performance, Pym was frustrated by the result and the timing of the hosts’ goal just before half-time.
“Personally, I felt I’d done well, but I was more frustrated with the result and the way the game went,” he said.
“The goal so close to half-time was frustrating and preventable. But now it’s about putting that to one side and focusing on Saturday.”
On bouncing back against Northampton Town
With Town looking to respond to three consecutive defeats, Pym believes the key is to rediscover the intensity and quality that have made the Mariners successful.
Drawing on his experience of winning promotions with Peterborough United and Mansfield Town, he stressed the importance of belief, getting the basics right and taking things one step at a time.
“We knew we were a good team and what we could do. That’s massive for us because we’ve shown over the last year and a half what a good team we are, and that we should be up there competing,” he said.
“It’s about getting back to what we’re good at, doing the basics well, having a variety of styles of play and knowing when to mix it.
“I think we need to play at the tempo we’re good at, where we press, get onto second balls, fight and compete, and then have the calmness and composure to get back to playing and making passes.
“When we have the hardest games on paper, like Bristol Rovers, we win the battle first, compete really hard and land on everything, and then we play.
“It’s going to be that again on Saturday. If we run hard, match them and go one step further physically, our quality will come through on the ball.”
Pym also highlighted the importance of staying alert against a Northampton side that has proved difficult to break down.
As a goalkeeper, he explained, concentration and communication are essential, even during periods when he is not called into action regularly.
“I’m quite a vocal person on the pitch, and that allows me to stay switched on and engaged,” he said.
“Having played in Leagues One and Two for most of my career, I know that, with a flip of a switch, the ball can be in on goal and you’ve got something to deal with.
“You can never switch off. I think goalkeeping is mentally more tiring than physically. After a game, I feel mentally drained because you’re constantly thinking about the ‘what ifs’.”
With the Mariners determined to turn their recent run around, Pym is focused on carrying his form into Saturday’s fixture and helping Town get back to winning ways.
You can watch Christy’s full pre-match interview here:
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