Grimsby Town winger Max Wright says his body ‘erupted,’ after scoring his first EFL goal in the 2-0 Sky Bet League Two win over Morecambe.
The 21-year-old, who has been with the Mariners since the age of nine, has had three loan spells away from the club in recent seasons, with Boston United, Scarborough Athletic, and Sutton Coldfield Town.
After returning to Michael Jolley’s side for the final two games of the 2018-19 campaign, he struck in the 97th minute in the 2019-20 opening-day win over Morecambe to score his first goal for Town last weekend.
And he says there was no thought process running through his head, but pure emotion, as he celebrated his first senior goal for the club.
Speaking exclusively on iFollow Mariners, he said: “I was wide, and Harry Clifton managed to get rid of the ball and it fell straight to me thankfully.
“I was in a good position and, as soon as I got it, I thought ‘I’ve just got to run!’
“Even if I wasn’t to go to the goal, I think I was just going to wind down the clock and go towards the corner.
“But as I got closer and closer, obviously I saw Jake Hessenthaler running in behind, and I was in two minds – I wasn’t too sure whether to slide him in, or shoot.
“But thankfully I just went for the shot, and what a day that is to score my first goal for Grimsby Town and my first in the EFL.
“When we were in the academy, Harry set me up all the time because we know how each other work – he knows exactly what I want, and I always run in behind.
“We’re on the same wavelength, and it sort of just shows there that he set me up for the goal. And that was even better for me that it was him who set me up!
“There was no thought process – my body just erupted, I just went crazy as I ran towards the fans.
“That’s so important because it sealed the game off, so we had to get everyone over to the fans to celebrate because of how many they brought, and their great support.
“I just couldn’t believe it – I think that’s why I went through about five different celebrations in 10 seconds!
“I wasn’t sure what to do – my body was taking me all over the place.”
The Town youth academy graduate is excited about the potential prospect of playing in front of a big crowd as Town host Bradford City at Blundell Park on Saturday (1pm).
He said: “It will be great. I think it’s great for Grimsby Town to see a huge club come down and play us.
“They’re going to bring loads of fans, and it’ll be great – it’s nice to play big teams.
“For me it’s nice because I’ve not encountered many teams in League Two because I haven’t played much, and it’s nice to play against these clubs and get familiar with them.
“We’ve sort of got that underdog mentality. They’re a massive club and we’re a big club as well, but it’s good for us to test ourselves against them.
“And if we can get a win then what a day it will be!
“We’re absolutely full of confidence at the minute, so I think it is probably one of the best times to play them.
“It’s just great to come on the back of a win and play a big team because we should have that extra boost behind us.
“And the fans should be making a racket behind the goal, so it should definitely help.
“But we could play them any time and the lads would give 100 per cent, and do their best.”
And Wright says he has ‘nothing but respect’ for the Town fans ahead of the first home game of the season.
He said: “Just bringing so many numbers down and making lots of noise – it really helps.
“The Town fans are known for making a racket, and it’s fantastic.
“At the end of the Morecambe game, the fans could have just stayed in the stands, but they came down and celebrated with the players.
“I’ve got nothing but respect for that – that’s how it should be. There should be absolute passion going through everyone’s veins in football.
“And I think you can’t ask for anything better than our support – I can’t ask for anything more from them.”
Watch the full interview with Max Wright for free exclusively on iFollow Mariners.
