Proc’s night

FRIDAY night football returns to Accrington tonight - and it's an important milestone for Stanley hero Andy Procter.

The midfielder should chalk up his 200th Reds appearance against struggling Wrexham .

And it marks the end of a big week for the 24-year-old who was crowned the PFA Fans Player of the Month for August and September and he fired home his fourth goal of the season in the 3-0 win over Bradford on Tuesday - Stanley's biggest away win since their return to the Football League.

"I am a bit shocked by it all to be honest," said the modest midfielder, who signed for Stanley in February 2002.

"I am surprised but absolutely delighted by the award - it is one of the few things I have won!"

"It is important because it is the people who pay their money who have voted for it.

"I didn't really know it was my 200th game and I didn't think, when I signed, I would ever get this far and be playing in the league.

"I am really pleased but I will never catch Mullers or Rocky though!"

Both Paul Mullin and Robbie Williams are both over the 300 Stanley game mark but it is an achievement for Procter who suffered a career-threatening knee injury and missed most of the Conference-winning season.

Now he is proving one of the stars of the campaign so far with four goals and several Man of the Match shows.

"He has come on in leaps and bounds," said manager John Coleman, with Procter signing and new two-year deal in the summer.

"He has progressed all the time he has been here and our big problem, if he carries on the way he has, could be keeping hold of him.

"He has had a bad injury but worked really hard - harder than anyone I know - to get back fit and he is now reaping the rewards.

"He is the probably the fittest midfielder in the league and he has improved.

"He is effective in what he does and has added responsibility to his game and he is keeping possession better and scoring goals and, for me, he can only go in one direction.

"With the exception of Mullers, both Rocky and Procky probably cost a bib and a ball and it is great having players who have been at the club a long time as they know what it means and how far we have come."

Procter admitted the biggest influence on his career was playing alongside ex-Liverpool and Galatasaray midfielder Mike Marsh in Stanley's UniBond Premier League winning season.

"Mike was brilliant for me - I learnt such a lot from him and Mullers had also been exceptional," he said.

"I have been happy with my form this season but would have preferred it if we had a few more points and were higher up the table - we should be."

Procter had never been known as a goalscoring midfielder in the past four years of his Stanley career but the penalty taker this season has now got four.

And, while he admits he won't win his battle with Mullin to be the Reds' top scorer, he can't believe he is challenging his team-mate.

"No one has been more surprised than me with the goals. It was about time they started going in and long may it continue," he added.