After a consistent season Rochdale F.C. are in a good position to qualify for the League 2 Play-offs, and Adam Lefondre is the man whose goals have powered the push for promotion.
Lefondre joined Rochdale on loan in the 07/08 season during the January transfer window from Stockport County. He impressed manager Keith Hill and made the move permanent in the summer for a fee of £40,000. Lefondre settled well at Rochdale and his impressive form has made him a firm favourite with the fans. His impressive form has put him at the top of the scoring charts with 16 goals so far this season.
I visited Spotland to meet the League Two scoring sensation which coincided with their home game against Darlington, a meeting that would be crucial in deciding their league finishing position.
The game ended with Rochdale losing 2-0, which was a hammer-blow to their chances of automatic promotion. However, Lefondre remained positive about the upcoming fixtures and the prospect of the play-offs, he said: “we needed to win to give ourselves a psychological edge over the other teams because we played early, but we haven’t won so I think we’re pretty much nailed on the play-offs. We’ve just got to try and win the last two games and see where it takes us.”
The play-offs hold bad memories for Rochdale after they narrowly missed out on promotion last year. The side made it to the final last year only to lose at Wembley to local rivals Stockport County, an experience that Lefondre believes will stand them in good stead this year: “I think we’d be better for it but its a horrible experience to lose at Wembley and I don’t want to go through that again. I want to win at Wembley as everyone does but, it’s all about getting promotion now and striving for that.”
The play-offs are an immediate route for Lefondre to play at a higher level, something the striker has always dreamed about. Lefondre has always seemed destined to do great things, growing up his raw talent was plain for even the biggest clubs to see: “I was about six or seven and I was playing for my local team. I scored something like five goals in a game when a United scout was there watching and he took me down to United. I went to Stockport from United and just went from there really, and came through Stockport’s’ ranks.”
Lefondre worked hard to progress through Stockport’s youth teams but is quick to acknowledge the work his dad put in to support his career: “my dad drove me everywhere, took me everywhere, whatever i’ve needed he’s given me and a lot of credit goes to my dad for where I am today.”
If rumours are to be believed the ‘Dale hitman could get his wish of playing at a higher level regardless of how Rochdale’s season ends. Lefondre has many admirers and established Premier League clubs Manchester City and Everton are said to be tracking his progress, something Lefondre is playing down at the moment: “Everybody wants to play at the highest level they can, but i’m just concentrating on playing for Rochdale at the minute and being as successful as possible with them.”
However, the striker believes he has has the ability to score goals in any league: “You’ve got to have your own opinion of yourself and I honestly think I can play at a higher level but I just want to see this season out with the team and be more successful than last season.”
Rochdale paid an estimated £40,000 for Lefondre, which is a significant amount for a club of their stature. Despite this, Lefondre says he felt no added pressure due to the price-tag: “no not at all I think they got me on the cheap really (laughs). No, I didn’t feel any added pressure. I think they’ve more than got their moneys worth out of me, i’ve scored near enough 40 goals for Rochdale now and hopefully long may that continue.”
Lefondre is already thinking to the future and his long term goals in the game. At 21 the striker is ambitious but understands there is a long way to go to establish himself in the game saying: “I Hope to play in the Championship, but you never know football is a funny game. It’s how lucky you are really and being in the right place at the right time but hopefully I can be playing in the higher reaches of the divisions.”
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