When asked who has the best one-liners at PNE, most of the players have no hesitation and say Jayden Stockley.
And the striker admits he likes to keep smiling on the pitch as well despite getting battered and bruised by defenders most weeks in the Championship, as he explained when he spoke to The One And Only for this weekend’s clash with Luton Town.
“I think that’s a compliment that I have the best one-liners. I think it is!” The 26-year-old told the matchday programme.
“It’s because I am more dry than anything. I watch a lot of ‘The Office’, I like ‘Curb Your Enthusiasm’ as well and it’s the dryness and the delivery.
“The lads are great here, we have a great camaraderie in the changing room, there are some really funny lads to be fair – Pottsy [Brad Potts], Clarkey [Tom Clarke], Bill [Bodin] to name a few.
“It’s a funny dressing room and it’s nice to be a part of it. I have made a lot of good friendships in the team.”
As a target man, Jayden feel the brunt of his opponents most weeks, but he says he manages to keep his jokey spirit on the pitch.
“After games, the boys always say their legs are in bits, I say my whole body is in bits! My arms, chest and head usually hurt. But that’s the part I love - you take a few, you give a few.
“I have a bit of a laugh with defenders. I don’t mind it. You get a bit of a whack, some go down straight away, but I think that’s part and parcel of being a target man, you give some and you get some.
“I do talk on the pitch to the opposition. When the goal kick comes up you say ‘come on let’s have another go’ or ‘who is going to win this one?’
“Normally when we are on top and it’s going well, I am quite quiet, but when the centre half is having a bit of joy, that’s sometimes when I get a little bit in their head, try and play mind games.
“It’s good fun, it never crosses that line, I am not that sort of guy. I try and be tough on the pitch, but it’s always fair. I do get annoyed sometimes, especially with soft fouls, but they normally even themselves out.”
It has been a momentous few months for Jayden who has just got engaged to Rebecca, the mother of his two girls, Avie and Aoife.
“We got engaged at Formby Point. Rebecca was surprised, we have been together ten years, but it was about time. Due to this, Preston will always be in our hearts and will always remember that special time.
“We got all our friends and family up to celebrate with us in Manchester. It was a really good weekend, one I will remember for the rest of my life. It was amazing.”
And he has fully embraced settling in the north west: “I like mixing around, getting around, seeing everything local and getting out of the house.
“Me and my family are National Trust members, we like a walk around and everyone is so friendly.
“We love to get involved with it all and experience life wherever we are.
“As a footballer you end up far away from home and you have got to embrace it and see parts of the country.
“Some of the places here are amazing, we are going to the Lakes for Christmas. It’s a beautiful part of the country and I feel privileged to be a part of it.”
There’s plenty more in this weekend’s last home edition of The One And Only before Christmas, with interviews and features with the likes of Sean Maguire, Kevin Nicholls, Brad Potts, Keith Keane and Graham Alexander.
This is another packed full 84-pages, on sale from Friday afternoon from the Sir Tom Finney Stand ticket office, or from inside and outside the stadium on matchday, still for just £3 per copy.