The Dunedin Technical coach is totally focused on what is happening on the field and sometimes resembles a mobile volcano as he roars encouragement and advice at his team. When things go wrong, he often appeals to the heavens with outstretched arms.
He is intense, volatile and passionate. Yet away from the touchline, he is a complete contrast. Softly spoken with a Scottish burr that betrays his Highland origins, Fridge is a different person.
And there are probably more than two sides to the former professional coach's character. They are readily seen in the work that he has done to improve the Dunedin Technical club at all levels.
Clearly, his immediate priority is victory over Glenfield Rovers in tomorrow's Chatham Cup semifinal at the Caledonian Ground.
Fridge affirmed: "Priorities are very important. We spend all week preparing for, and focusing on, our next match and I expect nothing less from my players.
"But there are short-term and long-term targets that myself and the Tech committee have also to keep working towards, and they range from improving the club's infrastructure to achieving professional standards, and also to create a conveyor belt of young talent that will ensure future quality."
Along with his assistant coach, Malcolm Fleming, Fridge is involved in coaching almost every day at primary schools throughout Otago.
Sometimes it is the football team, often it is the whole school that turns out and enjoys the sessions. Fridge uses the same techniques he learned in the Inverness area, where he ran courses for youngsters as well as eventually managing young full-time professional players.
At Culling Park, the senior Technical side and two feeder teams train together to achieve consistency and build an esprit de corps.
"Probably my most important team is the group of senior coaches we have assembled at Tech. As well as myself and Malcolm [Fleming] there is Tony Martin, goalkeeping coach Tony Boomer, second team coach Paul Cameron, the third team's Steve Ayoub, and club medic Noel King.
"This group's collective job is to look after what I consider is the future of the Technical club. Of the 40-odd players we have in the top three teams, almost half are under 19-years-old," he said.
Certainly, Technical has become a gathering point for ambitious young players who want to compete in under-19 tournaments such as the one Napier hosts over Labour Day Weekend.
Several youngsters, such as Tristan Prattley and Hayden Gunn, have already had experience of that tournament, as well as National League, the local Premier League and the Chatham Cup. Goalkeeper Nick Tarrant and Sam Jasper are also soaking up experience.
"Those lads have worked hard to blend their natural talent into Tech's style of play, and are important members of the squad," the coach said.
Only a few years ago, centreback John Chisholm was at a similar stage of development, but the son of former national league defender Bill Chisholm has kicked on since then.
Since Fridge suggested that his best position might be centreback, Chisholm has become the Technical captain, and a first choice alongside the experienced Blair Scoullar in central defence.
Chisholm has had extensive experience in the US and among trials he has had with several senior clubs was a week with Caledonian Thistle in Inverness.
Scoullar, too, spent most of his long career playing further forward, yet now enjoys central defence and brings to that area unflappable consistency.
In central midfield, Andy Coburn has struck a rich vein of form, powering the Technical midfield, along with Sam Jasper and the versatile Ross McKenzie.
Coburn's ability to score important goals gives him another dimension, and when aficionados discuss the 2008 season, Coburn's flying header against Miramar is sure to get a special mention.
McKenzie is no slouch in the goal-scoring stakes either. He is known to Fridge through the time he spent at Dundee United, and they have a mutual friend in Caley Thistle manager Craig Brewster, who rated McKenzie highly.
Using the squad system, Fridge now has alternatives that he uses in team selection, and nowhere is this more important than at the "sharp end", where he selects his in-form strikers.
Statistically, none can match Aaron Burgess, whose haul of goals this season is reminiscent of the glory days when he played in Technical's last cup final, in 1999, and not only scored in the 4-1 win but was also presented with the Jack Batty Award for making the most positive impact in the final.
Last week, Burgess scored an impressive hat trick against Southern Premier League rival Caversham, which may have clinched his selection for tomorrow's match.
But Fridge assesses each game and each opponent each week and, in Richard Smith, John Lang and even McKenzie, he has options that he has already used this season.
Glenfield Rovers, under coach Andy Moore and assistant Craig Alexander, is sitting in fourth position in the Football 1 Premiership, so this cup run will mean even more to the club.
Former Otago player Kuba Sinkora will enjoy returning to Dunedin, and defender Theary Thou played for Otago on a South American tour several years ago.
Glenfield players to watch are Jason Hicks, Michael Gwyther and Layton O'Rourke, who so far this season have scored 39 goals between them.
