FC Halifax Town: Wootton aiming to make the most of latest loan move

Heading out on loan is nothing new for Town striker Kyle Wootton.
Actions from FC Halifax Town v Chesterfield, at the Shay. Kyle WoottonActions from FC Halifax Town v Chesterfield, at the Shay. Kyle Wootton
Actions from FC Halifax Town v Chesterfield, at the Shay. Kyle Wootton

Halifax is the 22-year-old forward’s fifth temporary club after previous stints at Lincoln, North Ferriby, Cheltenham and Stevenage.

Wootton joined parent club Scunthorpe aged nine, and has made 44 appearances for The Iron since 2014, but he has made 51 appearances out on loan.

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“I’ve had a few loans along the way,” said Wootton, who is at The Shay until October 30.

“The first was Lincoln, I was there for about a month. I did well, scored a couple of goals.

“It was good for me, helped me improve as a player.

“Then I came back to Scunny and played in the FA Cup against Chelsea.

“We lost 2-0 but it was a good experience to get to play at Stamford Bridge.

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“We stayed up in League One after that so it was a decent season in the end.

“The season after that I went on loan to Cheltenham and played a lot of games there, scored a few goals.

“It was good for my progression. Gary Johnson was a good manager, he helped me a lot.

“The next year I went to Stevenage but that was a bit of a frustrating time. I tore my hamstring a few times so it set me back.

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“But I got myself back fit and I’ve been on the bench at Scunthorpe a lot this season, coming on here and there.”

Does it get frustrating going out on loan after loan?

“It does and it doesn’t,” said Wootton.

“At the end of the day, as a footballer you just want to play football.

“It’s a benefit for me (going on loan) but hopefully I’m bringing a benefit to Halifax by playing and helping them get back up the table and winning games.

“It works both ways.”

Wootton explained how the move to Halifax came about.

“He (Stuart McCall, Scunthorpe manager) said I was training really well but that the training was sort of going to waste with not playing and training that well, so go out on loan for a month and get some games.

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“The manager gave me a choice, whether I wanted to stay or go, and I said if I wasn’t going to play at this moment in time, instead of just sitting on the bench or coming on here and there, I’d rather play regularly.

“He gave me the opportunity to do that, which I thank him for.

“Hopefully I’ll go back to Scunthorpe and play a part.”

Does Wootton feel he is good enough to play regularly at Scunthorpe?

“Yeah I do, definitely,” he said.

“I have confidence in myself to play. At times, it’s just getting that opportunity because there’s people that are more experienced ahead of you.

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“But everyone gets a certain chance at a certain point, and hopefully my time will come again soon at Scunthorpe.

“They watched my last game (against Chesterfield) so there’s positives to take from that.

“You just want to go back to your parent club and play, especially me being there since the age of nine.”

There have been five different managers at Scunthorpe since Wootton made his debut there.

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“That plays a part,” he said. “Obviously he knew a few players but not everyone, so it takes time to see what players have to offer.

“He’s been there a couple of months now. I’ve had a few good chats with him and he seems to like me as a player.

“It’s just getting games and proving yourself.”