Tom Bradshaw phoned home to join Walsall
Striker Tom Bradshaw might have racked up the biggest phone bill of his life last summer, but nobody can question it wasn't worth it.
An early summer travelling in Thailand meant much of the negotiation ahead of the striker's move to Walsall took place on a line between Bangkok and Birmingham.
"I probably spoke more to the gaffer than I did my girlfriend over those two weeks," he laughs. "I think it was the biggest phone bill of my life but it was worth it, to get here.
"I wasn't sure what to expect at the start of the summer but things have turned out brilliantly."
That last adjective is close to bordering on the under-statement for a player who has surpassed just about everybody's expectations but his own.
When Bradshaw, with just 17 career goals to his name when he joined the Saddlers, announced on the first day of the team's pre-season tour to Devon he was aiming to score 15 this season, there were more than a few raised eyebrows.
His goal in Wednesday's win at Preston means he's reached the target with the season barely past the halfway mark and is currently the talk of League One.
All the uncertainty of the early summer, the agonising over leaving hometown club Shrewsbury, suddenly seems a long time ago.
"I think that is football in general, it is such a rollercoaster," says Bradshaw. "One minute you can be relegated and the next you are looking at the play-offs and scoring 15 goals.
"The contrast between this season and last season is phenomenal.
"Like I say, it is football and you just have to keep believing in yourself – you have to back the ability you have and always believe you can make it far up the leagues.
"I have always had confidence that while I may not be the best technical player I will always score goals.
"If I get a run of games I will always score goals and that is probably what I have never had in my career before now.
"That is what I have been most grateful for here. When I have been fit the gaffer has put me in the team and as a goalscorer, I have always said unless you have a good amount of games you are not going to score a good amount of goals.
"I am thankful for the gaffer for giving me the opportunity."
Bradshaw is the latest player to flourish after joining the Saddlers and admits the atmosphere created by boss Dean Smith and his coaching staff made settling far easier.
"It is the first time in my career I had moved clubs so I was not sure what to expect," he said. "I knew a couple the lads here – Romaine Sawyers and Paul Downing were at Shrewsbury on loan. Dean Holden I knew as a young lad, so I knew a few people.
"I suppose it is not really that uncommon in football these days, everyone seems to know everyone.
"The way my career at Walsall started is as well as I could have hoped.
"I have enjoyed every minute of what we are trying to achieve and it is a great atmosphere."
