Paul Terry talks to Martin Walker in our latest Thursday Feature…

He might be in strange territory after moving the furthest North he ever has during his footballing career to date, but Paul Terry admits it's "refreshing" to be in the North-East, and is loving every minute of being with Darlo.

The 31-year-old midfielder, snapped up by Mark Cooper in the summer, left Rushden and Diamonds after an impressive campaign with them in the Blue Square Bet Premier League last season.

The Diamonds finished fourth in the Conference but lost to Oxford in the play-off semi-finals.

It was the furthest North he'd ventured (Rushden is near Northampton, about 70 miles North of London), while all his previous clubs (Dagenham, Leyton Orient and Grays Athletic) have all been in London except Yeovil, which is 130 miles West of London in Somerset.

But he's enjoying the new challenge in the North-East and he's desperate to help get the Quakers back to League Two.

"Do you know what, I'm absolutely loving it up here," he enthused. "It's been refreshing to come up here and play for a club of this stature.

"It's a club going in the right direction. As soon as the gaffer got in touch I just had a feeling about it and wanted to join straight away. I want to be part of the team that got Darlington back into the Football League, that would be special for me.

"I've played a bit of League One and Two football and, of course, I want to be back there, that's the aim. But first and foremost I want to get this club back into the league. Nobody has a divine right to be there, but Darlington should not be in the Conference, no disrespect, and we're doing everything we can to put that right.

"We have to get our heads around this league and learn how to finish teams off."

To give Terry his due, he's the last person who tries to milk the success of his younger brother, Chelsea and England defender John, who watched Darlington's game at Eastbourne Borough last weekend.

And he wishes it could have been in different circumstances…

"It's the first time he's seen Darlington play and it wasn't the best performance for him to see," he said. "But that doesn't bother me in the slightest, it wasn't about John.

"What he did for us on the Friday was great, the lads loved going to Chelsea's training ground the day before and it was all good preparation, and he always tries to get to my games if he's not playing.

"But at the end of the day it was about us and we let ourselves down, we let the management down and we let our travelling fans down, it was those who I felt for. They paid a lot of money to go a long way to go and support us and we let them down.

"If it's any consolation to them the lads all felt embarrassed about it and they're all chomping at the bit to put it right this Saturday.

"It's after games like that when you want a midweek match to get it out of your system. We've worked hard in training, though, and we're all desperate to make up for the Eastbourne game, especially for those who made the journey.

"Them going down to nine men, you've got to go on and win the game. When something like that happens in a game you have to take advantage of it and we didn't.

"To give them credit they've done well but we've got to be finishing teams off, especially in those circumstances.

"There was a quality into the box and we didn't take our chances, but it's a team game and we all take responsibility. We win as a team and take the pats on the backs together, but we lose together as well and we all have to face up to it.

"We missed a lot of chances and I was guilty of missing a header so you can't point the finger of blame at the strikers or any one player, it's all of us."

Just like his brother, Paul Terry doesn't mince his words, and his honesty will be welcomed by Darlo supporters, but with Forest Green Rovers coming to the Arena on Saturday, he does admit it's time to put Eastbourne to bed.

He said: "Last week was disappointing, there's no getting away from it, but we're that far into the week now we have to draw a line under it.

"We've been focussing on Forest Green all week and, as far as we're concerned, that's all that matters now, making sure we're prepared for that game and mentally right to get three points.

"I'd have to admit that we haven't played that well yet this season, even when we've won games, so I suppose that has to be a positive sign. We're only six points off the leaders and, at this early stage, that's nothing.

"We've only lost one game, we just need to string three or four wins together and we'll be up there. It has to be our aim to get to the top of the Conference and make sure we're there come April 30."

On The Spot…
Best player played with: I'd have to say my brother! We played in youth sides when we were younger and I'm so proud of what he's gone on to achieve in the game.
Best player played against: That's a difficult one, I'd probably say Fernando Hierro, the former Real Madrid player. I played against him when he was at Bolton, for Yeovil in a Carling Cup game in 2004, and he was class.
Childhood hero: Paul Gascoigne, an absolute football genius.
What is on your i-Pod: There's a bit of a mixture going on at the moment, I like all sorts. I have to put up with some of Hatchy's rubbish, though - some of the crap on his iPod is unbelievable.
What was the last film you saw: Me and a few of the lads went to see Dinner for Schmuck last week, that was quite good.
Who is your dream date: Cheryl Cole.
Which four people would you invite to a dinner party: Cheryl would have to be there, and I'd probably invite Eva Mendes as well in case I got bored of Cheryl. Gazza would be there, for the banter, and probably Peter Kay, bit of a mixture there!
What irritates you: Quite a lot of things, actually. I'm not a perfectionist, by any means, but I like things done properly. Like if someone puts the radio on and the volume is on an odd number, I have to change it to an even number, things like that.
What is the one sport you cannot stand: Baseball, I've got no time for that game whatsoever.
Finally, tell us something that not many people know about you: Well, I shouldn't really tell you this, but my younger brother plays for Chelsea. Ha ha! But seriously, I'm quite a keen golfer, I once got a hole in one and I only play off 16, not bad eh?