10:40am Tuesday 26th May 2009
By Owen Houlihan
SWINDON Wildcats’ head coach Ryan Aldridge insists Gareth Endicott will prove the perfect on-ice leader after bringing the 30-year-old back to the Link Centre.
As revealed on www.swindonadvertiser.co.uk yesterday, Endicott will return to the club for the 2009-10 season as assistant player-coach.
Endicott has spent two seasons coaching Cats’ English Premier League rivals Wightlink Raiders and Aldridge believes his experience can prove key for Swindon.
“Gareth is one of the players that I wanted to bring back to the club when I first took the job on,” said Aldridge.
“He is mature, solid player who brings a wealth of experience to the team.
“He is returning from coaching on the Island where he took them to their highest points totally in years.
“Gareth knows me, the way I am and the way that I expect things to be done.
“That is why he will be the perfect assistant coach for me this year.’’ The duo’s association goes back more than 20 years, winger Endicott making his Swindon debut in 1992-93 and featuring in each of the town’s senior teams for the past 17 years.
Aldridge added: “He is someone that I trust to tell me the truth and someone that I can bounce ideas off at any time.
“When I sat down and thought about having a player assistant on the bench, there was only one choice.
“I’m pleased that Gareth has signed up to what we’re trying to achieve here.
“It has been about 22 years since we first played together and 11 years since we last played together.
“As kids, both of us dreamed of playing for our local team, the Wildcats, and I am excited that now Gareth will be playing such a large role in helping me take this team forward.”
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