AFC Fylde are delighted to announce that Caspar Hughes has agreed to remain with the Coasters until the end of the 2015/16 season with the option of another year.

The agreement and contract was signed just days before he went on to score his first goal for the club in his 76^th appearance – the injury time winner against Solihull Moors on Tuesday night.

Caspar was clearly delighted to have been asked to extend his contract for a further season and puts it down to his knowledge of the full back position from earlier in his career.  “I played as a full back for a year when I was younger so I know the role quite well already.  I’m used to being able to link up with the winger and jockeying to get into position and the right side of the defender so it’s really suited me.”

It has suited Caspar that well that his performances have impressed many a supporter and was one of the factors why manager Dave Challinor was keen for him to put pen to paper.  “Casper has been excellent this season wherever he’s been asked to play” Challinor said.  “He’s shown his quality and ability to get on the ball and make us play in the victory at Barrow in central midfield but has really excelled at full back.

“He’s very comfortable with the ball at his feet even when under pressure and his ability to create from full back areas has been really profitable for us.  It’s been a new position for him at this level and one he has had to learn.

Challinor continued to praise his player adding: “Defensively he has got better and better each game and he will only continue to improve.  He’s a very clever footballer and will take on board information which some may find quite surprising as he does not have an ounce of common sense!”

Caspar was surprised to hear that he’d played as many games for Fylde as he has.  After joining in May 2013 he played 49 of the 63 games in all competitions last season and has made a total of 27 appearances already in this campaign.

“I didn’t know I’d played that many games to be honest” he said.  “I’m really enjoying my football here and I could have waited for the end of the season but with the new stadium about to be built this club is going somewhere and I really want to be a part of that.

There is the small matter of the league game against Oxford City to play on Saturday (kick off 3pm at Kellamergh Park) but the game Caspar is really looking forward to is the rearranged FA Trophy tie with AFC Telford United next Tuesday evening (7:45pm, also at Kellamergh Park).

This is due to the fact his old friend and former team mate Sean Cooke plays for the Bucks and Caspar has been itching to play against him since he left The Coasters after the successful Play-off Final at the end of last season.

“I’m looking forward to seeing him again and having a good crack with him before and after the game.  If he plays on the left wing that would be even better as I’ll be facing him as right back which would be great.”

Caspar and Sean were team mates at Nantwich Town before they joined Fylde and before that they were part of the Crewe Alexandra Academy side that played and beat AFC Fylde’s Youth Team 4-0 in the First Round of the FA Youth Cup in November 2010.

Challinor and his assistant Colin Woodthorpe have been focused since arriving at the club just over three years ago to add continuity to the squad and wholesale changes season after season is clearly not how they work as many of the current squad made the step up to the Conference North after winning promotion last season.

Challinor added: “We have the majority of lads either tied up to next season or at least have options on them and they’ve shown so far this season that they’re all more than capable at this level.  I’ve said it over and over but I truly believe this group has plenty of room for development individually and collectively and that’s something that as a manager is really exciting.  We want to keep as many of them together as we can, improve as a group and add quality if and when required.”