The Big Interview with York City's Peter Till

THERE are those that will tell you that League football is everything. The be all and end all.

Those not fortunate to be part of the club strive their hardest to get there – to get promotion, to catch the eye of a manager, or a scout representing one of those teams who inhabit the ‘promised land’.

His whole career, Peter Till has been part of that club.

From his days at the Birmingham City academy, through loan spells at Scunthorpe, Boston, Leyton Orient, to time at Grimsby and Walsall, Till has only ever played with a Football League badge on the arm of his shirt. Until now.

Released by Walsall in May, Till spurned the interest of League outfits, including Port Vale and Burton, to become Martin Foyle’s latest signing at York City.

It was an important decision for the 24-year-old and one he didn’t take lightly. But he believes his decision to join York is the right one.

“I was out of contract at Walsall and I had a few phone calls from clubs,” he said.

“I know Martin (Foyle) has wanted to sign me for a while so that helps – when a manager wants you to come to a club, that’s a big deciding factor.

“I have been up in this part of the world before, at Scunthorpe and Grimsby, so I am quite familiar with the area. Everything just felt right and it was a good decision for me to make.

“I have played League football and my ambition is to get back to the League. I know the gaffer wants the club to get up and they were unlucky last year losing in the play-off final. I am hoping we can go one better this year.

“I played 34 games at Walsall last year and I thought I did okay. I would have liked to have been a bit more prolific – chip in with some goals – but I need to get out and play.

“Games give you confidence and confidence is massive. The gaffer has shown a lot of confidence in me. I just hope I can get on the pitch and do the business.”

Till’s strength is his adaptability. He brands himself as an “old-fashioned winger” but he says he can play on the left, right or through the middle. He’s played in big games as well – having been part of the Grimsby side which got to the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy final in 2008 before losing 2-0 to MK Dons at Wembley Stadium.

But he is taking nothing for granted at York. His first thought is of breaking into Foyle’s side – a team which only failed at Wembley to gain promotion and which retains a hardcore of the squad which narrowly missed out on being elevated into the League.

“I am very quick, very fit. I like to get at the full-back – an old-fashioned winger type, if you like. I like to cause the full-back problems and get my crosses in and link up with our full-back as well,” he said.

“I consider myself to put a shift in as well. Everyone has got weaknesses, if we didn’t have weaknesses we would be in the Premier League, but I will try to minimise those and concentrate on my strengths.

“I probably had the most productive time of my career when I played just off the striker at Grimsby – in the hole behind the striker, which gives me a lot of freedom to cause problems.

“I don’t mind playing on the right, or the left, or up front. As long as I am in the team I will be happy and I’ll have the same attitude going into the game whether I am playing left, right, or through the middle.

“I’m just looking forward to getting going.” For getting going, translate to “getting promotion”.

Till added: “I think it is key that Richard Brodie is staying and, hopefully, he does stay. I know Duane (Courtney) from my time at Birmingham. Duane’s a good, solid right-back and he is quick and strong. That’s another good signing.

“I knew two of the lads from last year, Paul Harsley and Jamie Clarke, and they have said it is a good side and have every chance of going up this year.

“My ambition is first and foremost to get in the team and start scoring goals. If I am doing well that should make the team do well and we can be pushing all the way. The ultimate aim has to be promotion.”