Andy Oakes speaks to the Quaker matchday magazine. This article was originally printed in the Darlington v Wycombe Wanderers programme on November 24th.

Andy Oakes admits that things haven't gone to plan since his summer move to the North East. The thirty-year old goalkeeper has always been on the fringes of first team action during a career which has seen spells at Hull City, Derby, Port Vale, Bolton, Walsall and Swansea. The much travelled goalkeeper arrived at the club before the start of the season with the aim of establishing a regular starting place but the performances of fellow keeper David Stockdale has seen a real battle develop.

A red card during the opening day win against Wrexham did little to help Oakes' although the giant shot stopper took one for the team that day. This allowed Stockdale a chance to shine and it would be a further seven matches before Oakes could get his place back. His run in the team was ended thanks to an injury ahead of the home game with Chesterfield. With each keeper doing so well when they get their chance it means Oakes has had to show some patience. It also shows how strong the keeping situation is at the club.

"I've always been on the fringes of the first team and some times that is just how it pans out. If you are asking why that has been the case I couldn't really give an answer to be honest. That is how it has panned out and I've come here and I really want to put that right. I want to cement my place in the team but at the moment, from a personal point of view, it hasn't really gone as planned. I am sure for the gaffer it is fine because of how we are doing in the league, the points we are picking up and how the goalkeepers are playing," said Oakes.

"The red card on my debut didn't help me and it gifted the shirt to Dave. He has come in and done fantastically well. You can see why some clubs might be looking at him. He is young and he has all the attributes and just needs a little fine tuning. Dave then got injured and it handed the chance back to me and I felt I did well. Then before the game against Chesterfield I got injured myself which handed it back Stocky. I think we are both decent keepers and whoever is in the side I think it will be good for the club. The way people are getting their place at the moment is a sign of how good the goalkeeping situation is."

It has certainly been a lively start to life at Darlington. In the second half of Quakers' game against Rochdale he was clattered by his own skipper Steve Foster, who whacked the ball against the crossbar in attempting to clear, then stumbled into Oakes catching him so hard on the back of the head that he needed several minutes of treatment. He carried on in that match but despite his desire to nail down a first team place he conceded he couldn't take to the field when he picked up an injury during the warm-warm prior to the Chesterfield game. It was a move he was later praised for by manager Dave Penney and whilst it means he is once again on the bench Oakes is fully behind young Stockdale.

"If Dave is playing I am always 100% behind him and vice versa. I've been in the game a lot longer than Dave and he comes to me for advice. If he has any problems then I am more than happy to help him out but at the same time there is still that rivalry there. We both want to be in the team and it is a fine balance really between friendship and work. They always say keep your friends close and your enemies closer and it is just like the goalkeeping situation with us in some respects," said Oakes.

In between the pair is former Darlington shot stopper and current goalkeeping coach Collett. While Oakes may have a few years on Stockdale he admits the presence of Collett benefits him as well.

"You never stop learning. Different coaches have different ways of doing things and he is very good. It is unusual to have a full time goalkeeping coach at this level. It just shows you the ambition at the club and where we want to go. It is beneficial to us having him around and we need him about everyday. He keeps us on our toes and keeps us going," Oakes said.

Kevin Luff