Ahead of Saturday's postponed game with Swindon Town, our match day programme caught up with Scott Brown for an up close & personal feature:
Scott Brown, now in his third season with the Reds, endured a difficult start to the clubs 2017/18 campaign.
Brown, an industrious central midfielder, found himself nudged out of the starting eleven by summer signing Liam Nolan, as the former Everton academy graduate was forced to settle for cup appearances.
But around October time, the performances of the experienced Brown convinced manager John Coleman to restore him to his league side and the 32-year-old has played an integral role ever since.
Brown played the full 90 minutes during Stanley's disappointing Checkatrade Trophy exit at Lincoln City, and speaking following the match the midfielder said:
“We were all really disappointed on Tuesday night, we went there to win and I thought that we stuck to our game plan quite well. We ended up being undone by three sloppy goals. Overall I thought that we were the better team and dominated the possession and created plenty of chances.
“We go into every game looking to win, the gaffer and Jimmy Bell install that into all of us, we have just got the league to focus on now and every game will be like a cup final to us. We have a difficult period in December, and we will go back to Lincoln looking to put that right.”
Brown, who is a Football League servant, has enjoyed spells at clubs including Bristol City, Cheltenham Town, Morecambe and Grimsby, admits it was difficult not figuring in the managers plans at the start of the season.
But now he's forced his way in, he is determined to keep his place and fight off competition from a plethora of midfield talent at the Wham Stadium – and he's targeting automatic promotion with the Reds this term.
“It was hard for me at the start of the season,” he says. “The lads started really well and I couldn't see a way into the side for myself. I got the chance in a couple of Carabao Cup and Checkatrade Trophy matches and I've managed to take it and force my way into the league plans.
“I've been fortunate that we've had a good involvement in both of those competitions as it gives you a good chance to express yourself, you try to impress as much as possible and you can keep that freshness and sharpness.
“No player likes to be sat on the bench watching but I tried to keep myself around the lads, encourage them and help them as much as I could. But at my age you want to play every game possible.
“I'm lucky here because I'm working with a gaffer in John Coleman who knows how to get the best out of me, he's one of the best that I've ever worked with too - and long may that continue. I just really want to keep my place now and keep helping to push the lads towards promotion. I want to be a big part for the remainder of this season; it would be great to achieve something special here.
“We're really strong here in the central midfield area and I think that all of us can bring something different and offer the manager another option to his thinking. So I know how difficult it is going to be to hold onto my starting position but I'm up for that battle, I think it's healthy to have that sort of competition for places.”