Fleetwood captain Pond set to break The Rock's record

Pond matched Ainscough’s 421-game record in the 0-0 draw against Blackpool at Highbury on Saturday.

And now centre-back Pond, who has been at the club since 2003, is set to make history against the Saddlers by overtaking Ainscough’s total.

Like Pond, Ainscough was a centre-half – nicknamed ‘The Rock’ – who joined the club in 1954 and went on to set that appearance record during the club’s Lancashire Combination days.

Pond ( 30) has been one of the first names on the teamsheet over the last decade.

He has been a key figure in Town’s remarkable rise from the North West Counties to League One.

Steven Pressley says it was fitting Town kept a clean sheet on his momentous day, and the manager hailed the defender’s recent performances as Town enter the last two games of the season just two points off the relegation zone.

He said: “Nathan is a brilliant influence. He deserves all the plaudits that go with it.

“I thought he gave a fitting performance for his achievement.

“I thought he was excellent and the group kept a clean sheet.

“The thing with Nathan is that throughout his career, as he has progressed up the leagues, people have doubted whether he could play at the next level. But he has always proved them wrong and proved he can play at whatever level because he has the right mentality and he has performed very well.”