The Apprentice - Alex Fisher
Alex Fisher is 18, and living the dream that many of us have - that of a professional footballer. He has kindly agreed to this interview with O'Shea Sport following his release from Oxford United.
What's it like to be a youngster in the lower/non-league? Much is made of the pampering of the youngsters in the Premiership etc, but is it the same lower down, with just less money?
It depends on the club. Teams with larger budgets have the ability to have greater support behind the scenes. It is rare to have a full time youth team operating for a conference side, something Oxford United are actually able to support. I think whatever the level though, the youth team take care of a lot of the less glamorous things that go on behind the scenes. There's a lot of cleaning and washing! But definitely for less money!
What are the initiations like? Has anything changed since Julian Alsop went a little too far at the club a few years back?
It's definitly calmed down. It's usually a song. I had to do mine at a pre match meal before my debut in front of a packed restaurant. Nervewracking to say the least.
Who's the best player you've played with? Faced?
With: probably Chris Wilmott
Faced: Diarra, Mendez or Distin.
Any young non-league players aside from yourself to watch out for? Or indeed, any older lads you think should really be at a higher level?
There are certainly a few I have seen with a lot of talent who can/should be playing higher up. I always rated James Clarke when he was at Oxford.
What was it like going on loan to Brackley at such a young age? How do you feel it went? Would you go on loan again? Did you feel you proved something by notching a few goals there?
Brackley was a great place to gain experience. It was my first experience playing mens football, and for a team where I knew no one! I have been on loan since and I think it has improved my game. If you are not going to be playing first team football, the next best thing is a loan move. You learn a lot more there than you do playing for the youth team.
Who's had the most positive influence onyour career?
My family have been huge. I wouldn’t have been able to have had the opportunity if it wasn’t for their support. In the football world, David Oldfield and Chris Wilmott have been influential.
How high a level do you think you can play at? Do you believe you can make it long-term as a professional footballer?
It’s a bit of a cliché but I think that its possible for anyone to reach the highest level if you are dedicated enough. People would be surprised at the level of sacrifice required to make it at the highest level. There is no social life. If I practice enough and keep trying to better my game through training and watching the best in the world in my position etc it gives me a better chance at progressingthrough the divisions. I'm certainly not giving up.
How much money do you make? Do you work on the side?
It was less than minimum wage and I wasn’t allowed to have a job on the side. I didn’t care how much I was on as long as I played football everyday!
What's been your best moment in football so far?
Scoring against Portsmouth who fielded their FA Cup winning side against Oxford last pre season. We lost 2-1 but to score a left foot volley vs. David James was better than … I mean was amazing! Hearing Jeff Stelling on Soccer Saturday say my name was a bit of a buzz to!
How big a crowd have you played in front of? Is it difficult to play with little atmosphere, because Oxford are a big club at non-league level, and you had a great home record 08/09?
10,000 for an FA Cup game. Playing at home the large crowd definitely spurs you on but playing away a smaller crowd can relax you as its less nerve-wracking. Although more experienced players often disagree.
Favourite goal and why?
Probably the Portsmouth one, but I will always remember one I got against Brighton in the same pre-season on loan to Bognor Regis. Left foot into the top corner from 25 yards. Made the 2 and a half hour drive home that evening more bearable.
Who would be your dream club to move to?
I support Everton to it has to be them! I have a lot of family in Wolverhampton who are life time supporters so maybe a stint there would be nice. Similar to Joleon Lescott. (Cue laughter)
Any advice for other youngsters hoping to make it in the game?
Try and practice as much as possible at an early age working on technique. This is because as you grow, your muscles better adapt to the techniques you have learnt. It makes for more natural movement when you're older. It's far easier to learn new things when your younger, and the older you get the harder it becomes for your muscles to adapt as they are all but fully developed. Other than that, pure and simple perserverance!
The other side of the fence - The Press Officer
Ceri Stennett, 48, has been the FAW's Press officer since 1998, and is a Welsh football historian, and has kindly agreed to this interview in his capacity.
So Ceri, how did you become to be the FAW's Press Officer?
"I've been involved with the association since 1986. At first on a voluntary basis, assisting with historical items, going through the historical records, correcting and often preserving them, as many of the documents were just put in boxes and cast to one side. At the time I juggled that voluntary work with theatre, both on stage and in a technical and administrative capacity. Having been known to the association, I then took the position in 1998."
And the historical side of things?
"Well I've been interested in the history of Welsh football for many years and I actually did a couple of books on the subject in the dim distant past, but have been actively researching Wales' football history since the late 1970's. It's not so much an official thing, but since I've been working with the FAW, they've used my knowledge, so in all but title I'm the historian as well."
So, how close does your job as Press Officer get you to the Welsh squad?
"I'm literally with them 24 hours a day from when they come into camp. I'm the Press Officer, but for all intents and purposes I'm like a General manager at whichever hotel we're using, On arrival I collect the players' passports, allocate the rooms and together with Mark Evans who's head of the International Department, he and I run the admin side of the team, from booking the band for the anthem, to the PA announcer and accreditating the press.
Being so close, what's the atmosphere like at the moment in the camp?
"Well I would say I've always enjoyed a good relationship with all our managers, starting with Bobby Gould, then of course Mark Hughes and now John (Toshack). At the moment, I'd say the atmosphere's as good as it's ever been. The influx of young players has certainly changed the dynamics of the squad, which means I feel my age a little bit. I'm 48 now, and so become almost a father figure to some of the younger players. Under Mark Hughes the average age was a lot higher and so with bringing it down obviously we hope that will pay dividends in the long run. They've brought a sense of anticipation and excitement that only youngsters can, and that's very refreshing."
Why do you think there has been such a turnaround in public feeling towards John Toshack as manager?
"Inevitably the youth in the squad has to play a part. I think with John, from day one he came in with a plan, and that was how he wanted to see the team develop. With all due respect to some of the boys that have played for us, John has had to make the best of what he's had at his disposal. Now he's managed to mould squad and you can see he's been successful in dramatically reducing the average age, and also in picking players who want to play the way he wants to play.
Is that why you think there's been an upturn in results?
"Well yes, the players now understand what John wants and expects of them. Tactically they know their jobs and are certainly playing in the style that he wants them to. Going back to the point about John's popularity, we just hope that the Welsh fans and fans further afield can see he's getting the results and performances much more consistently now. Like any manager, John's fervent wish is to have all his players fit, and secondly for them to get regular game time. And now we have a situation where many of the guys are getting games, and in the Premiership too, which has not always been the case in recent years."
So, as a Welsh football historian, what's the proudest thing you've encountered regarding our history as a footballing nation?
The thing I've probably enjoyed most whilst wearing my historian's hat is keeping up the link between the FAW and former players. I've spent a long time tracking down our older players from the 60's. 50's, 40's and even further back. It's important for them to know that once an international, always an international and they should always be part of our family. That's something I take great pride in. I have a book of some 70 or 80 addresses and phone numbers of past internationals, dating back to the oldest, Ivor Powell who's in his 90's and played for Wales during the war years."
And your favourite Welsh footballing story?
"The 1958 team will obviously be remembered as the only team to qualify for a major tournament, and not only that you are talking about some classic Welsh footballers. John Charles, Ivor Allchurch and Cliff Jones are players would have been giants of Welsh football in any decade. People harp back to Sweden and '58 because it was a magical tournament. The idea of Wales in the quarter-finals, playing Brazil, and Pele scoring a somewhat flukey goal, it's a story that's probably worthy of a film beign made of it.
Have you been able to meet any of your heroes or indeed one great idol?
"I was very lucky that my one great idol was a man who I never actually saw play football in the flesh, and that was Trevor Ford, who played for Wales in the 40's and 50's. It was luck that he happened to be a family friend and I grew up with him as almost a surrogate uncle. I'd talk to him for hours about his career that took him from Swansea to Aston Villa, Sunderland, Cardiff, Eindhoven in Holland and he was at the time the man who'd scored the most international goals for Wales. He really was one of those larger than life characters who had so many great stories about such great names like Stan Matthews and Tom Finney. In a way I idolised him, and spent hours looking at his scrapbooks, jerseys and photographs. He really to me epitomised the magic of Welsh football in the 40's and 50's. On top of that, I was lucky enough to meet so many of those players that took us to the quarter finals, but Trevor Ford was always my one great idol."
How big a step was it for the FAW base in Cardiff to be used for the announcement of the hosts of Euro 2012?
"Well it was all hands to the pump basically. For a small association like ours, we were all running around like headless chickens, it was a frantic few days leading up to it. Being a taxi driver one minute, a removals man the next. It was a great success and a great feather in the cap for the FAW to be allowed to hold such an event, it was such an exciting couple of days."
Recently there's been murmurings of a joint European Championships bid with Scotland, for the 2016 or 2020 tournament, how developed are the talks?
"In all honesty I don't think there's anything at this moment in time really, which is of great interest to report. The wheels turn really slowly in these situations. The members of the FAW meet with the Scottish representatives and indeed members of the other associations on a regluar basis, and it's always an excuse for a talking shop. It could be two representatives bumping into eachother, and it's blown out of proportion. In terms of infrastructure, there's not only prblems on our side, but on Scotland's too, and many hoops to jump through before that could become a real possibility. It would obviously be fantastic to be a part of, but we are an extremely small association, We have less than 30 people here, and to take something like on, even with UEFA 's help, would be incredible."
What are the saddest and happiest moments you can share with us during your time at the FAW?
"The saddest moment would undoubtedly be the game against Romania in 1993. It was such a sad night for all reasons, not least the desperately sad situation with the flare killing a spectator at the end of the game. For me, that was the one that was so close, I was there in 1985 against Scotland when Jock Stein dies and I was actually the PA against Romania, and everyone was so down about not qualifying for the USA, because we were so close but yet so far."
"With regards happier times, there's been many occasions when we've enjoyed ourselves win, lose or draw in truth. But probably the one that sticks out was fairly early on in my time as Press Officer, when we went to Copenhagen for a qualifying match and a young Craig Bellamy scored the winner after we'd been under the cosh all night. That was probably one of my favourite away victories, and we all went out and celebrated and painted the town red if you like. Clearly the home win against Italy in 2002 was magical, Robert Earnshaw scoring against Germany, albeit in a friendly. Any win over a major side is always nice and I've been lucky to be involved in a few where we've turned the tables on sides"
There must be plenty of funny memories, some mentionable, some not I imagine, if you'd care to share one.
"Well plenty of stuff has happened, most of which I could certainly never put into print, but I do recall when Mike Smith was in charge in 1994, and he lost so many players he turned to me and said 'Ceri next one that drops out, you're in the squad'. That was great and I believed it for about 5 minutes. To have a Welsh manager say that, even in jest was fantastic and I know I went home that night dreaming of pulling on the Welsh jersey. Like everyone at the FAW, we are all football fans and as much as people sling bows and arrows at the FAW, sometimes with good reason, there is no doubt that the people who work here and are involved with the FAW, truly have the interest of Welsh football at heart."
Once again thanks to Ceri Stennett for giving up his time to do the interview.