Paul Anderson leaving interview: 'I'll always have a soft spot for the Cobblers - it's a really good football club from top to bottom'

The thought of making his first ever appearance at Wembley Stadium must have felt a long way off for Paul Anderson when he ended last summer's transfer window without a club.

Frozen out at Mansfield Town, Anderson's 2018/19 campaign consisted of just four substitute appearances for Plymouth Argyle before he became a free agent in the summer.

Despite being promised a move, nothing was forthcoming. It was only a call to Keith Curle and the Cobblers last autumn that got his career back on the right path. As he revealed in an interview shortly after joining, Anderson would not even be in the country, let alone winning promotion with Northampton, had things gone to plan.

But just like his first spell at Sixfields, it was a case of the right club at the right time.

"The first time I came to the club, it was after I broke my leg and it was a chance to play as much football as I could," says Anderson. "I probably wasn't quite up to the speed that I could have been because I hadn't played for a year.

"The second time around, I had a few offers over the summer and I got promised one thing and another which meant I turned down some other good options.

"But I got let down at the last minute right at the end of the transfer window and that left me without a club because all the other options that I had weren't there for me as they had used up their budgets.

"I contacted Keith myself just to see if there was an opportunity to come into the club and train. I heard they were looking for an attacking player and at the time the club weren't doing particularly well.

"I felt I did well in training so I spoke to the gaffer and he said 'let's put something on the table to get you through to January' and it was a similar thing for me because I just wanted to get back playing again.

"I think it suited all parties. It was a good opportunity for me but I also think it was good for the club because we went on a good run when I came in and it ended up working well for everyone."

Not only did Anderson establish himself as a regular starter within weeks of arriving, he also became a key part of Town's march up the table.

"I was a little bit surprised to play so much straightaway but not because of ability," he adds. "I back my own ability and I think there's a reason why I've played at the level I have.

"I know what I can do for a team. I might not score 20 goals a season but the things I do off the ball help the rest of the team and if you speak to Vadaine Oliver for example, he used to say how much he loved playing with me because of what I did for everyone else.

"I more was surprised from a fitness point of view because I hadn't played in a long time, but I wasn't surprised by the performances because I think every footballer has to back themselves to be in the starting XI."

The 31-year-old thrived in an unusual role. Previously regarded as a wide midfielder in the past - certainly during his last stint at the PTS - under Curle, he impressed in central midfield.

"Playing central is something I've wanted to do for a long time because I think I'm controlled on the ball," continues the former England U19 international. "I don't always take four, five touches but I keep things simple with one or two touches and I can keep the ball moving.

"I think it actually suited me better being central than playing out wide, especially with the injuries I've had and the amount of games I've played over the years - I don't quite have the pace I used to and I'm probably not as effective on the wing.

"So playing central suits me and I also played deeper in a holding role at times. It's better for me and it helps the team as well."

With Anderson's help, the Cobblers climbed up the League Two standings in double quick time, so much so that by the time the season was suspended in mid-March, they were inside the play-offs.

And that would prove crucial. With no more regular fixtures played due to the coronavirus pandemic, it was straight to the end-of-season promotion shoot-out and ultimately, for Anderson, a first appearance at Wembley Stadium, albeit in unusual circumstances.

"Once we knew we were in the play-offs, there was never any doubt from us and we thought 'we're going to do this'," he says. "I know Cheltenham beat us 2-0 in the first game but I didn't think that was a fair result and we actually had more chances than them.

"They felt they could have gone up automatically if the season had finished so I think they were trying to edge towards that, which is what any club would have done in their situation, but I felt whoever won out of us and Cheltenham would have beaten Colchester or Exeter.

"Obviously we got to Wembley and then you couldn't have wished for a better performance in a final.

"In a way, things worked out for the best. I didn't think Wembley was ever going to happen for me. That was my fifth time in the play-offs and I had never previously got to the final.

"So for that to happen, it was pretty much the last thing on my to-do list and it was very nice to get that one because as an English player to play at Wembley, it's a massive dream of mine."

Anderson, who came on for the final few minutes as Cobblers thrashed Exeter 4-0, admits there was just one important thing missing from the occasion.

He adds: "For the Cobblers fans, it would have been amazing for them to be at Wembley and out of anyone, they deserve it because, throughout both of my spells at the club, they were brilliant with me.

"I just want to say thank you for all their support and I wish the club all the very best in the future and hopefully, one day, I'll be back."

Such is the harsh reality of football, only three days after the play-off final, Anderson was told by Curle that he would not be offered a new deal, bringing an end to his second and probably last spell at the club, at least as a player.

"I'll always have a soft spot for Northampton because of what happened last time and I've made really good friends," he continues. "The club is a very good club from top to bottom with really good people.

"The owner, I could not speak more highly of an owner. Both this time and last time I was here, how he handles himself, how he conducts himself, how he is for the players and for the club, Kelvin (Thomas) is second to none.

"It's the same for the CEO, James (Whiting), and all the way through the club. From all the people in the offices to the kit man Adam (Moreton), It's just a really good place and for me, it's nice to have won promotion for everyone else rather than myself.

"It was great to be a big part of that and I felt like I had a massive impact on the team, especially during the period where we won a lot of games, and I also played in all the cup games which probably helped to fund the club through the pandemic.

"There was respect from everyone. People were saying to the players thank you for what we did and then the players are sat there thinking it was amazing to be able to give that back to the club because the club deserves it more than anyone."