Goal scoring hope for the Centurions (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

Goal scoring hope for the Centurions

MARK Danks may finally have found his spiritual football home at Cirencester Town.

The Centurions' passing game seems to suit the darting, five-ft-seven-ins-tall striker, who likes to receive the ball to feet and take defenders on.

The 21-year-old has played for many clubs for such a young footballer.

Having earned England caps at under-15 and under-16 schoolboy levels, he started his career at Wolverhampton Wanderers before moving to Bradford City for one season.

Dropping down to non-league football, he briefly represented Halesown Town before moving to Hednesford Town.

He scored a remarkable 24 goals in 42 matches for Hednesford in 2003-2004, prompting Forest Green Rovers, of the Nationwide Conference, to sign him on a year's contract.

Danks played for Rovers in a pre-season friendly at The Corinium Stadium.

Although he missed a sitter in that game, possibly because of closed-season rustiness, his movement constantly stretched Town's defence.

So, desperately seeking a striker capable of scoring the goals to save Cirencester from relegation, Town manager, Brian Hughes, unhesitatingly signed Danks when the player became available on a month's loan.

His Black Country accent betraying his Stourbridge roots, Danks said: "Brian just came in for me.

"He's shown faith in me and hopefully I can repay him because it's been a while since anybody's fancied me as a player.

"I still feel I could do a job for Forest Green but it's the manager there who picks the team, not me.

Could he be Cirencester's saviour?

"I wouldn't like to give myself that mantle but hopefully I can score goals here. It's a great set-up here and a good bunch of lads."