IT tends to be part of the pre-match team talk – players urged to 'leave everything on the pitch'.

If there is a Tamworth player who encompassed those words over the last couple of seasons, it was striker Danny Newton.

Post match, as fans hovering around the dressing room area would testify, there wasn't a game go by where Newton didn't hobble to his car.

It wasn't always down to a knock or niggle – he had just simply run himself into the ground.

As well as his goals - 29 of them last season - it was that level of effort which ingratiated Newton into the hearts of a set of fans who only really demand pride, passion and belief from their heroes.

And, having completed his move to League Two side Stevenage on a free transfer this week, Newton says he will need to maintain that work ethic to continue his success.

“Working hard has always been part of my game and I feel I am reaping the rewards now," Newton told the Herald. “Even if I am not playing well, I have always felt I have given everything.

“That's something that will continue. I want to be a success at Stevenage.

“I will back myself to do it but it will take hard work and, if I am not cutting it, I will just have to work even harder.

“I am just delighted to get this chance.

“It is a massive opportunity and I am really grateful I have been given it.

“I can't wait to get started. I have had some good chats with their manager, Darren Sarll. He has explained how he sees me fitting into his plans, how the lads are and what the dressing room is like.

“I'm really excited and nothing will compare to living my dream every day, playing football," added Newton, who leaves his role as a maintenance engineer on Friday.

It was perhaps inevitable that Tamworth would lose their prize asset this summer.

Boss Andy Morrell had been desperate to keep the former Leamington striker, offering him a bumper deal.

But the writing was perhaps on the wall once Newton was signed up as a poster boy of the V9 Academy – Jamie Vardy's initiative to find a non-league player to follow in his footsteps.

Newton took part in a week-long academy last week, working with coaches such as ex-QPR boss Chris Ramsey and former Fulham manager René Meulensteen.

“I want to thank V9 because they put me in the shop window," he said. “Taking part in it last week at Manchester City's training ground was a fantastic experience.

“It was a brilliant week working with some top coaches.

“The first few days were hard, really intense. It was high intensity stuff and everyone was feeling it.

“It got us all geared up to go for the games at the end of the week though.

“I played for the V9 against a PFA side on the final day.

“Their side was made up of players looking for clubs as well so it was competitive.

“We won 1-0 and I played well and scored the winner with a header so that obviously helped."

The rest is history. Newton received a call from Stevenage a few days later, while on holiday in Ibiza. He cut short his break to return and sign.

But while he is looking to the future, Newton is not going to forget the past and has already vowed to return to The Lamb to watch Tamworth when his schedule allows.

“I can't thank the fans enough," he said. “I want to thank them for all the memories.

“They have been brilliant with me from day one and I have nothing but good things to say about them.

“I never got down at any point during my time at the club because they were always brilliant with me and I will definitely be popping back down. I look forward to seeing some familiar faces."

Newton admitted he also owes manager Morrell and assistant Mike Fowler plenty of gratitude.

“They are both so good at what they do," he said. “I don't think they get enough praise for how good they are.

“They have helped me such a lot. They have really got the best out of me.

“With Andy, as a striker himself, he has taught me so much. He's still an incredible finisher even at his age.

“And Mike has such incredible attention to detail. I have learnt a lot from him.

“I owe them both a lot and any player who wants to develop and go further in the game should look no further than those two, in my opinion."