SWINDON Wildcats D-man Neil Liddiard doesn’t mind being the old man in the dressing room after finding his feet quickly at the Link Centre.

The 37-year-old moved from fellow English Premier League outfit Guildford Flames in the summer.

Liddiard was quickly made assistant captain by Stevie Lyle behind Jan Kostal and alongside Lee Richardson, who was promoted when Aaron Nell took over the reins from Lyle.

The Swindon-born skater has admitted that his age is the centre of a lot of jokes in the dressing room but knows his experience could prove vital to the team as they prepare to host league new boys Hull Pirates tomorrow.

“I’m loving it here and I feel like I am playing well and the team is playing well,” said Liddiard.

“It is a great bunch of lads in the dressing room and I am loving coming to the rink every day.

“Guildford is run professionally, but since I have been here Swindon has been run so professionally with Steve Nell and Aaron Nell. It is a great set-up they have here.

“It is a very young team and there a few of us older – I hate to say it – older players and I guess we have to keep everyone on an even keel and keep pushing on.

“I am the butt of the joke sometimes because I am the older player on the team but it is all part of the dressing room banter and I can take it.”

Swindon suffered a disappointing defeat in their only game of last weekend at home to top-of-the league Milton Keynes Lightning.

Liddiard knows Swindon, who also travel to Manchester Phoenix on Sunday, will need to cut out silly mistakes if they are to return to winning ways.

“It was a pretty tough defensive game and they had long periods of sustained pressure,” he added.

“Stevie again had a great game but we have just got to take our chances when we get them.

“I enjoy playing those type of defensive games – that’s why I am a defender – but it is tough and I just try and put my body on the line and keep the shots to a minimum.

“In a game of hockey, you are going to make mistakes but we have just got to keep them to a minimum.”

  • TOMORROW’S match at the Link Centre will be another Kids Go Free night, the club’s final one of 2015. Every youngster who buys a Chuck-A-Puck (£1 per go) will also receive a prize, on a first come, first served, basis.

All free tickets need to be booked via the box office on 01793 886 85 and will be available at the ticket office on the night of the game, subject to availability.