Josh Dacres-Cogley has turned 29 in a good place after confirming that he has signed a new contract to extend his stay with Wanderers, writes Pete Oliver.
Dacres-Cogley put pen to paper on a deal to keep him with the Whites until June, 2026 earlier this season and he was happy to share the good news as he and Wanderers look forward to a positive future.
“Life's good. The family's good, healthy, well, so yeah, it's all good,” said Cogley, who celebrated his birthday yesterday (Wednesday). “I'm delighted to be here. I think the club's got great aspirations and I like the direction they're moving in. I want to be a part of that, so that was kind of my decision to sign that extension and try and go with it.
“It's been really enjoyable to play in recently. I feel like I've got my form back and where I want to be playing and the type of football I want to be playing, so I'm really happy with how it's going.”
Dacres-Cogley is closing in on 100 appearances for Wanderers and has been one of the Whites’ most consistent performers since joining the club from Tranmere Rovers before the start of last season.
He has continued as a key man under Steven Schumacher as either a right-back or wing-back and the Whites’ head coach is delighted to be working with the former Birmingham City defender for longer.
“He's been really impressive since we've come in,” said Schumacher, who takes charge of his 10th game when he leads Wanderers against Stockport County on Saturday.
“He's been someone who has trained really well all the time and has a really good attitude. He's a player who wants to know things. He asks questions and he thinks about the game and his performances have been excellent. He's been really positive when he's played. He likes to get forward a lot and we've needed him at times with his pace to get us out of trouble once or twice.
“When I heard the news that he'd signed a contract extension, I was pleased for us and pleased for myself but really pleased for him as well. He's earned that contract and good luck to him.”
Dacres-Cogley was given a breather in mid-week when Wanderers lost a first game in seven at Bristol Rovers to remain sixth in the League One table.
Stockport are one place and two points better off than the Whites going into Saturday’s lunch-time kick-off and after losing 5-0 in the reverse fixture, Dacres-Cogley admits there is every incentive to try and add three more points to the play-off push.
“We've got 10 games left and we want to win them all and see where that puts us,” he added. “You never know in this league. You never know what teams are going to do above you and you never know what the teams are going to do below you, so we've just got to take care of our business and we'll be good.
“We need a performance and, more importantly, we need a win, especially after what happened at their place. I think it's only right that we do the same to them at our place and get our fans cheering like theirs were.
“I think it'll be bouncing here, especially with the importance of the game, and everyone is raring to go in the changing room, so it's going to be an exciting one.”
Watch Josh’s full interview ahead of Saturday's game against Stockport on Wanderers TV