Ricky Ravenhill speaks to the Quaker matchday magazine. This article was originally printed in the Darlington v Rotherham programme on December 26th.

No nonsense midfielder Ricky Ravenhill believes that Quakers could not have done much more ahead of the Christmas period and it is hard to disagree with him. Prior to the festive fixture pile up Darlington find themselves occupying an automatic promotion place and possibly the best chance of moving out of the basement division in seven years.

Christmas time can drastically shape a campaign. With so many points on offer and so many games to play a team can leap up the table. The opposite is also true but whereas in the past Quakers have been looking to make up ground during the festive period they will be looking to stamp on the accelerator to create a gap behind them. Regardless of what the next few games hold for the club the start of the season could not have gone better.

"We couldn't really have asked for anything more," said Ravenhill in early December. "We are where we wanted to be and we are on course for the amount of points we wanted to have. Its very encouraging going into the Christmas period and it is as good as what can be expected. The manager has said if you stick to a two point per game average you will probably be up there and unlucky if you didn't go up so I think we are just about at that. It is what we wanted and we are on target."

"When you are at the top you are there to be shot at. We have been sneaking around the second and third spot which isn't quite as bad but everyone comes here and tries to defend because we have this reputation as been one of the better teams. We have to go out there and prove that and try to break teams down."

Ravenhill knows just how important this time of the year can be for a promotion push. He was part of the Doncaster squad which ended up as Champions of the division in 2004. The tough tackling midfielder was amongst the first players manager Dave Penney bought to the club last season. Quakers showed decent patches of form during the previous campaign but there has been a marked improvement this time around. Having spoken to several players on the subject the overriding belief is that the competition for places is the reason behind this improvement. Ravenhill does not buck that trend.

"As soon as we came back for pre-season we had a feel that this campaign we would have a good go for it. The big thing is knowing that you have a good enough squad. I think people accepted last year that it was a bedding in period for a few players. It was the gaffers' bedding in period as well. This is his first proper season, with his team and right from the off I think people knew we would be up there and so it has proved," he said.

"I can seem similar qualities to what was at Doncaster when they went up. Squad wise everyone is challenging for a place and there are plenty of good players to come in and take a place. Personally I think we've got as good a squad here as back then, maybe even better. I am just hoping we can emulate what happened at Doncaster and do it all here again."

The combative and competitive midfielder is guaranteed to keep the opposition on their toes throughout a game with his unflinching approach but Ravenhill himself has to stay on his toes. The competition for a place in the Darlington midfield is perhaps even more competitive than the man himself with the likes of Clark Keltie and Micky Cummins constantly knocking on the door. Ravenhill has proved time and time again that he is more than up to the task and weather in the side from the off or starting from the bench he has the ability and the tenacity to play an important in Quakers' Christmas and their season overall.

"I think I am doing quite well but we have a fantastic squad here now. If you are even slightly off form or don't play at 100 per cent then you will be out of the squad for the next game. That is how good the squad is. When I don't play, and I think I've done well enough to keep my place in the team, because Clark (Keltie) and Micky (Cummins) are getting picked you've just got to accept it. Overall though I am pleased with how I've been doing," he continued.

"I want to hold down a place in the team the same as anyone else and play as many games as I can. I have played quite a lot of the games over the first half of the season. Just getting in the team and keeping your place is what it is all about. Hopefully I can do that over the Christmas period and into the New Year."

Kevin Luff