For Tom Bloxham, the 2023/24 campaign has been one where he has grown in stature both on and off the pitch.
The talented winger knew it was vital he played regular first-team football this year.
And that is why he opted to join Morecambe on loan at the beginning of the season – with the 20-year-old enjoying a fruitful stay in Lancashire.
Key to Bloxham’s success was his relationship with then Shrimps boss Derek Adams – who also tried to take the forward on loan to Scottish outfit Ross County in January.
For Tom, though, the plan at the turn of the year was always to return to the Croud Meadow and become a regular starter for Salop.
And that is exactly what he has done – with Blocko having impressed on the right flank ever since the arrival of Paul Hurst as boss.
“The 2022/23 season was frustrating for me,” Bloxham said.
“I didn’t get the minutes I wanted and for that reason, I knew this year I had to be playing regular first-team football.
“The Morecambe move came about really quickly.
“Matt Taylor was the head coach at the time and he called me into his office and told me he thought it would be a good idea for me to go out, get game time and then come back.
“Right from the start the plan was for me to come back and get in the team.
“And I really pleased that’s how it worked out. Going to Morecambe has really helped me kick on.”
It was after Shrewsbury granted permission for Morecambe to speak to Tom that he then met up with Derek Adams.
“Right from the start Derek was sound,” Bloxham continued.
“He had looked at all my highlights and clips and said he felt the way I play would suit how he wanted his team to be.
“It helped massively having a manager who really wanted me. That immediately boosted my confidence.
“I felt it was going well at Morecambe. And then Derek left for Ross County.
“I came back in January and Matt Taylor told me Derek wanted me to go up to Scotland on loan.
“For me, the most important thing then was game time.
“First and foremost, I wanted that to be with Shrewsbury. And I know that’s on me, I know I have to earn that.
“But Derek Adams was saying he was going to play me, so it was important we sat down and had a chat about how Matt saw me featuring here.
“We had that conversation and agreed it was best for me to stay.”
Tom lives around Leicestershire and travels to training every day in the car school alongside Marko Marosi, Jordan Shipley and Tom Bayliss.
But his move to Morecambe was the first time he had really lived away from home.
“It was a completely different experience for me because I couldn’t head back home at weekends,” the forward said.
“Spending all that time traveling wouldn’t have been good for me so I had to stand on my own two feet a bit more, away from my family.
“But I made a good friend. I roomed with JJ McKiernan who is a really good lad and helped me settle. He is a great lad. But all the lads up there are sound.
“And it taught me some life lessons, nothing too major – just things like cooking for myself.
“I was only doing nice and easy stuff like pasta, but everyone has to start somewhere!”
Being tall, quick and with a trick or two up his sleeve, Tom has all the attributes you’d want in a winger.
But he says it’s off the ball where he needs to improve – something he is now working on with head coach Paul Hurst.
“A big thing for me is improving off the ball, and the more games you get – the better understanding you have,” Tom said.
“I learnt a lot while I was up at Morecambe.
“And then the other side is trying to be more consistent. I haven’t been as consistent as I would like so far in my career. That is what I still need to work on.
“Going to Morecambe really helped me. Ever since I’ve been back here, I feel like my confidence has been boosted.
“But there is still so much work I can do, and the new gaffer has been great with me.
“When he arrived, he sat me down and told me he likes how I play.
“We had a conversation about working hard. He wants me to challenge myself to get in the team every week.
“He has really helped me go out there and perform.
“I feel like I’ve done okay since I’ve been back but now it’s about maintaining that and then kicking on again.”
Tom revealed Hurst wants him to get into more dangerous positions in and around the goal.
“I need to get more goals and more assists,” Bloxham said.
“But to get more goals and assists I need to stay in the team, so I’ve got to keep working hard and listening to what the gaffer tells me.
“He talks to me a lot about getting myself into positions where I can score more goals.
“The gaffer has told me I’m not often in positions where I can score. That is what I need to add to my game – understanding that is so important.
“Taking up the right positions is vital. But the gaffer is helping me learn and we work on it every day.
“That has boosted my confidence as well because it is working. I scored against Reading and Port Vale but I feel I’ve been close to a few others as well.
“The gaffer has also said some nice things about me in the press recently and I really appreciate that.
“I just want to do my best for him. I feel he believes in me so I just want to show it on the pitch and do what I can for him.”
