PADIHAM striker Paul Fildes has joined AFC Fylde after claiming the Lancashire Telegraph’s Golden Boot award for 2008/09.

Fildes topped East Lancashire’s non-league goal charts after finding the net 34 times during the season, edging out Bacup’s Tommy Turner by four goals.

He admits the prospect of claiming the Golden Boot - together with a war of words with Bacup boss Brent Peters, who claimed Turner was a more deserving winner because Fildes was only playing in the Vodkat First Division - gave him an extra spur in the second half of a season.

Fildes helped Padiham claim promotion to the Premier Division and has now signed for AFC Fylde in UniBond First Division North, although he admits he will be sad to leave the Storks.

Fildes, who works as a branch manager for an electrical company and has previously played for various clubs including Kendal and Bacup, said: “I enjoyed my time at Padiham.

“I’m a Padiham lad and we had a great season but it was an opportunity to play in the UniBond again.

"Finishing top of the standings was a good achievement.

“I scored 34 goals in 37 games, even though I missed six or seven games at the start of the season and then three through suspension.

"Whatever I do, I hate losing and Brent came out and said a few things.

“But I liked that. I’ve played for him and he’s done that for years.

"It was a good bit of banter. That stirred me up and when I read what he had said I went out for a run straight away.

“I played in the UniBond League for Kendal two years ago and scored 10 goals in 16 or 17 games, but hopefully I can again put to bed the suggestion that I can’t score goals at a higher level.”

HOTSHOTS

P Fildes (Padiham) 34
T Turner (Bacup) 30
R Smith (Padiham) 23
S Heap (Nelson) 21
A Sensale (Ramsbottom) 19
C Ridehalgh (Padiham) 18
P Eastwood (Ross U) 17
C Sargeson (Clitheroe) 13
E O’Neill (Ramsbottom, 6 for Darwen) 13
L Garbutt (Colne) 12
A Farrell (Chorley) 10
L Turner (Darwen) 9