New Grimsby Town vice-captain Luke Hendrie hopes he can make the Mariners’ fans proud of the team in Sky Bet League Two 2019-20.

Michael Jolley made long-serving goalkeeper James McKeown captain, and handed full-back Hendrie with the vice-captaincy ahead of the new season.

And the 24-year-old, who scored two goals in 46 appearances in all competitions last season, is eager to continue to show his desire to win matches at Blundell Park.

Speaking exclusively to gtfc.co.uk, he said: “It’s a really proud moment for me, and it shows that the manager has a lot of trust in me.

“It doesn’t really change how I play – I want to try and win once I cross that white line.

“I’m quite a nice lad and I get along with anyone off the pitch, but as soon as I play I want to win.

 

“And I obviously want to keep my standards high, and help the other people around me as well.

“I just want to play games. I really enjoyed my time here last year – it took me a little bit of time to get going.

“But since I’ve found my feet I’ve really enjoyed it and I thought we did well – in the middle part of the season especially.

“But personally I just want to try and do as well as I can, and do well for Grimsby Town and make the fans proud of the team.

“But the main thing this season is we have seven, eight, or nine captains on the pitch because that can only help us do well this year.”

And the defender has backed new strikers Matt Green and James Hanson to make valuable contributions – both on and off the pitch – this season.

He said: “The new lads have come in and settled in well, and they’ve added something to the group.

“James Hanson and Matt Green are big summer signings and they’ve definitely added something to us that we were lacking last year.

“And not just that – it’s off the pitch as well, they’re good leaders and good people to have in the dressing room.

 

“Last year we probably lacked that as well, so we’ve definitely added that quality on the pitch, and they’re good people as well.

“Towards the end of last season it was difficult – you’d look around and there were a load of young lads, and sometimes you just need that bit of help and know-how to get through games.

“And that was probably one of the things last year – we just needed that game-management.

“And obviously with the experience that James Hanson and Matt Green have had, that will help us in the future.”

And, after over a month of intense pre-season training, Hendrie says he and his Town teammates can’t wait get started against Morecambe at the Globe Arena on Saturday (3pm).

He said: “I’ve enjoyed it – it’s been good to get back with the lads, and also meet the new faces.

“It’s been a long pre-season, and you obviously enjoy the hard work but it’s all about the Saturdays.

“It’s been promising – a lot of the stuff that we’ve tried to implement in training is starting to bear fruit in games, and that’s good.

 

“But we’re under no illusions that when the league starts it’s all about results.

“The good thing is we’ve got a good team spirit this year – where everyone pulls for each other and wants to do well for each other – and that can only be a good thing.

“The games against Doncaster Rovers and Peterborough United were friendlies but they were both quite competitive games, and you could see we wanted to win in both of those games.

“And you just want that to fast-forward to Morecambe, and have something to show for it, because you live and die by your results on a Saturday, so I just can’t wait to get going.”