Lincoln City forward Delano Sam-Yorke told LincSport reporter Nick Lough he was over the moon to have penned a permanent deal with the Imps this week.
Sam-Yorke made the move from Cambridge United after a string of loan spells over the past two seasons, and has now put pen to paper on an 18-month contract at Sincil Bank.
Sam Yorke said: “I’m delighted to have signed.”
“It took a while to get all the paperwork done, but now I can hopefully push on and focus on the task ahead.
“I was kind of worried, it took longer than expected, but like I said I’m happy it’s done, all the paperwork is signed and I can just get on with my football really.”
Before all the serious stuff started Sam-Yorke spoke to reporters at the club’s press conference about the great morale in the camp ahead of Saturday’s game away at Macclesfield, and also included his newest purchase.
Sam-Yorke beamed: “All the boys when we come in to training are always full of smiles and jokes and stuff. We put the pictures on twitter and things like that; I’ve even got myself a selfie stick!
“It’s just a happy bunch of lads really right now, so long may it continue!”
Jokes and fun aside, going in to a difficult away game with the Silkmen, who have only lost once at home all season (which prompted Sam-Yorke to shout out in bewilderment “have they?!”), the centre-forward shared some of his thoughts on the Imps own home form, and what they need to do to come away from Moss Rose with three points at the weekend.
Sam-Yorke: “Our home form is all about confidence really.
“Once you get one or two games going, you start going in to games thinking positively, and we’re doing really well at the moment!
“I didn’t know that they had such a good record!
“It’s just about positivity, if you go in to a game with the mind-set that you’re going to do well, then more than likely you are going to do well. That’s the way I personally think.”
Sam-Yorke’s last goal for the club came just before Christmas during the 2-1 defeat to Kidderminster, but the former Cambridge man is pleased for the free-scoring exploits from some of the side’s midfield players.
Sam-Yorke said: “It takes a huge weight off of the strikers’ shoulders when they are scoring.
“I haven’t scored for four games or so now, I’ve got a couple of assists, but we are still winning games, scoring goals, and that’s all that matters really.”
With this being Sam-Yorke’s second spell at the club, 26 year-old explained why he chose to sign for Lincoln permanently, and why other players should follow suit.
“It’s a great club to be at.
“Obviously I came here last year and I really enjoyed my time here, and everyone made me feel welcome, from the training to the staff to the boys, it all just suits me.
“For anyone who wants to join this club, it’s a very ‘homey’ club. I think anyone would enjoy their time here.”
Talking play-offs now, and having been part of a side that won promotion to the Football League season last campaign, Sam-Yorke can see the quality in the Lincoln side to follow suit in May.
“I definitely see this team as a play-off potential side.
“That is one of the main reasons why I signed, we have great ambitions here and we are going to push for the play-offs. We are going to take each game as it comes, but we’re definitely going to give it a go.
“It’s a positive thing that I have been through it. It’s a great occasion to be involved in, and hopefully I can just do what I did at Cambridge here at Lincoln.”
Finally, Sam-Yorke was involved in the U’s first three games of the season, two in the league, one in the League Cup, and the centre-forward wants to prove he is good enough to play above Conference level, and do it with Lincoln City.
Sam-Yorke rounded off saying: “I had a little taste of it when I played a few games for them at the start of the season.
It didn’t really work out, but for me personally I thought I did well, and I think I can do it, I definitely want to! That’s the main ambition for the club and for me personally to play in the league.”
By Nick Lough