- Print Topic - Archive

Recently, I have been musing about Luke Waterfall- do I need to get out more?

Anyway, before last season, I took my son to the pre-season open day. On the day, he had several photographs with various players: Clifton, Fox… Revan 🤔. However, even though he was stood close to us, I just couldn’t bring myself to call Waterfall over due to the season he, and us, had just had.

Now, if I was at the same event, he would possibly be the first person I’d call over due to his work rate, commitment and… improvement in form!

This got me thinking, has there been any other huge turn arounds in form that we can think of in our history? Rob Jones, perhaps?

While you consider this, I shall go back to musing over Luke!

Quoted from thefish

Recently, I have been musing about Luke Waterfall- do I need to get out more?

!

Seen him in a few games and he always trys . Strikes me as a battler who wears his heart on his sleeve. The kind of characteristics I admire in a player 👏.

Rob Jones was quite a turnaround but he didn't get relegated with his confidence shattered after being deployed as a ball playing centre half for a few months.

I thought at the time, Waterfall needed the end of the season to come so he could get away from football for a few weeks and clear his head. I never in a million years thought he would play for us again. Hurst made him available for transfer but he knuckled down (other players in the game take note). He wasn't even first choice at the beginning of last season, he didn't start against Weymouth but then Pearson was dropped to be at the birth of his new baby and Longe-King got injured. By the time Ryley Towler arrived, Waterfall was the undroppable defender.

This is from April last year, really good interview with him
[url=https://www.grimsbytelegraph.co.uk/sport/waterfall-grimsby-town-future-talks-6919806]Luke Waterfall on his Grimsby Town future, honest Paul Hurst talks and comeback mentality[/url]

Quoted Text

Luke Waterfall has insisted he wants to stay at Grimsby Town after entering contract talks with the club and has spoken honestly about reviving his career at Blundell Park. The Mariners' centre-back's current deal expires at the end of the season.

Waterfall has been ever-present in the National League this season and recent performances have earned rave reviews from supporters. Fans are keen to see Waterfall commit his future to the club and Paul Hurst revealed last week that talks between both parties have begun.

The 31-year-old is focused on the current objective of earning promotion but admitted he'd like to stay at Blundell Park regardless of what division the club find themselves in.

"They're progressing, there has been early talks," Waterfall told Grimsby Live. "All the focus is on Saturday and the remaining games of the season.

"That is where my head is at and the gaffer's head is at. Next season will take care of itself once we are done with this season.

"We're into the final push to get in the play-offs and we will see where we go from there. Contract talks in my experience are always difficult when the club doesn't know what league they will be.

"We are in a position where we could, hopefully, get promoted or we could be in this division. That doesn't really help contract talks either.

"It won't impact my decision (which division). I am happy here, I enjoy coming to work and that's why I've had a good season, I am enjoying it.

"I love the lads here, we have a great group, I have said I want to stay. We will cross that bridge when we come to it, I'm sure we will sort it out."

It's been a remarkable journey for Waterfall in the past 12 months. In pre-season, Hurst honestly told the defender he wouldn't be guaranteed first-team minutes this season and he could consider other offers.

However, Waterfall came back from the summer break fitter and more determined than ever. The thought of moving teams was never really entertained and he is now a leading contender for the Mariners' Player-of-the-Year award.

"That's football for you, things change and turn around," Waterfall said. "Sometimes for the better, sometimes for the worst.

"It hasn't been the first time in my career that I've had a setback or a knock-back, I always come back stronger. I have come back and played every game.

"To be fair to the gaffer, he said that but also said he wouldn't be surprised if I played 40 games for him too. It's funny how football works.

"I came in for pre-season, I was fit and then I'm in the team and it's up to me to stay in the team. I've had the situation before, maybe not to that extend, but I've had knockbacks.

"I was released when I was younger, I left clubs and had to start again in Non-League and work my way back up. It's not easy, it's never plain-sailing.

"There are ups and downs and I am used to it. It might have affected me more when I was younger. Other players could take it to heart, come in and not train well or thought my time here is done.

"That's not for me, it's not my mentality. I come in and work twice as hard. There were discussions (with other clubs) but nothing really suited me for my family, nothing was ever really on the cards.

"I was happy to stay, I had another year left. We're in the National League, I've been here before and I fancied myself to do it again and break into the team.

"I know I can do it at this level so I was confident I could come back and play."

My favourite Waterfall moment was the last gasp goal vs Wrexham. Not just the goal and the significance but his run back to the centre circle wild -eyed, shouting a never ending stream of unintelligble words that looked to be every pent-up frustration he (and the fans) had suffered during the last season.
All let out like opening a lid on a pressure cooker.
I don't know exactly what he was saying but I feel he was speaking for all of us.

Just shows what confidence can do and worth remembering when we sign someone who gets slated by a previous club. Imagine what we'd have said if he'd signed for someone else at the end of the 2020/21 season......

Quoted from HatTrickHero

My favourite Waterfall moment was the last gasp goal vs Wrexham. Not just the goal and the significance but his run back to the centre circle wild -eyed, shouting a never ending stream of unintelligble words that looked to be every pent-up frustration he (and the fans) had suffered during the last season.
All let out like opening a lid on a pressure cooker.
I don't know exactly what he was saying but I feel he was speaking for all of us.

fuckofffuckofffuckofffuckoff I think.

Quoted from 140381

fuckofffuckofffuckofffuckoff I think.

Yes. It was directed at mullin i believe, as waterfall ran back to our half, who had dived for their penalty and then punched the ball in the net for their third.

Quoted from 140381

fuckofffuckofffuckofffuckoff I think.

At 18:50 here is a brilliant angle of Waterfall’s goal. It’s pretty clear he’s making a bee line for the devvo’d Mullin (having mugged him for the pen in the first half), who can only turn away in disbelief. Ain’t karma a bítch.

https://youtu.be/eXJfKguaYIk

Mr Daniel Coyne:

I was unconvinced by him in that first season. Struggled in the air and looked like a downgrade from the ever reliable Aidan Davison (*)

However, in his sophomore season, and beyond, Coyne became the best (permanent) Town keeper of my lifetime.

* Mike Summerbee used to say of Bobby Moore, that he was “the only man who could have a bath and get out dry”, never getting the bathmat wet. Aidan Davison was the same in that he could crawl into bed in his sweaty, dirty, Dixon jersey and the bed would still be swathed in crisp, clean sheets when he left it in the morning - like a perfectly laminated, linen millefeuille.

To a lesser extent Ben Futcher.

First season with us he looked like Bambi on ice. Second season he was as solid as a rock.

Quoted from BobbyCummingsTackle

To a lesser extent Ben Futcher.

First season with us he looked like Bambi on ice. Second season he was as solid as a rock.

Are you sure you’re thinking of Ben Futcher? We signed him in the 2006 January window as we failed to win promotion, then sold him to Peterborough in October that same year after making just 4 league appearances the following season.

Quoted from Poojah

Are you sure you’re thinking of Ben Futcher? We signed him in the 2006 January window as we failed to win promotion, then sold him to Peterborough in October that same year after making just 4 league appearances the following season.

I may have (in my head) elongated his period with us. He was sh*t in his first season but I didn't realise he left so quickly in his second. It's a fair shout, Ben Futcher can be discounted.

Quoted from thefish

Recently, I have been musing about Luke Waterfall- do I need to get out more?

Anyway, before last season, I took my son to the pre-season open day. On the day, he had several photographs with various players: Clifton, Fox… Revan 🤔. However, even though he was stood close to us, I just couldn’t bring myself to call Waterfall over due to the season he, and us, had just had.

Now, if I was at the same event, he would possibly be the first person I’d call over due to his work rate, commitment and… improvement in form!

This got me thinking, has there been any other huge turn arounds in form that we can think of in our history? Rob Jones, perhaps?

While you consider this, I shall go back to musing over Luke!

I remember during the closed Holloway season when Luke had more than a few disasters getting verbally excited when he wasn't on the team-sheet/starting line-up.

Now I'm disappointed when he isn't. Such a turn around. He's a beast, great work-ethic and a great leader to boot! Earnt the captain's armband hands down. Instrumental to our promotion play-off campaign. Sums it up when during the last game against Luton JT/Crofty commented after we scored the 2nd/3rd goal that Waterfall was telling the team to calm down and get back to the game in hand to not let our guard down.

Lesson learnt there to stick by your players + staff even during the worst of times.