In short
Alan Judge, former Ipswich Town midfielder, discusses his career path from Ireland to England, his loan spells, his first Ireland cap, the Ipswich Portman Road incident that led to a long injury layoff, and his current playing plans at Braintree. He also reflects on Ipswich’s relegation season, COVID, and managers including Paul Mariner, Big Sam, Thomas Frank, and Paul Lambert.
Guest background
Alan Judge is an Irish former Town midfielder/attacking player (born in Dublin). He played for Blackburn (academy to first team), had loans including Plymouth and Notts County, then spells at Brentford and Ipswich. He later played for Braintree, and is based in Ipswich with his son in the academy.
Key claims
His knee injury at Portman Road became a near two-year absence (re-break/operation; ~20–22 months). Brentford renewed his contract during recovery. He believes honesty from managers helped him (Big Sam and Thomas Frank). Ipswich fans clapped the team off for relegation, which surprised him. COVID was difficult but he says they adapted well.
Notable examples
First Ireland cap under Martin O’Neill (Aviva vs Switzerland). Scored/assisted in European qualifiers; one goal involved breaking his wrist. Ipswich FA Cup win vs Lincoln (his first for the club). Boxing Day Brentford 4–2 vs Ipswich.
Written by AI. May contain mistakes. Listen to the episode to check what was said.
Chapters
Tap a time to open that second in VOCatching Up with Alan Judge
0:00 to 0:13
Host Roscoe speaks with Alan Judge about his current life and location.
Catching Up with Alan Judge
0:34 to 1:44
Host Roscoe speaks with Alan Judge about his current life and location.
“And today I'm joined by a very special guest, Irishman and former town midfielder Alan Judge.”
Career Reflections and Injuries
1:44 to 2:48
Alan discusses his career, injuries, and plans for the future.
“It's just about, you know, playing as long as I can, really, at the moment.”
Early Life and Family Influence
2:48 to 3:35
Alan shares insights about his upbringing in Dublin and family background in football.
“But usually when you're away, you get to go into an AC, into a nice cold room, but you don't care at the moment.”
Transitioning Positions and Early Career
3:35 to 4:55
Discussion on Alan's transition from striker to midfielder at Blackburn.
“I think it kind of runs in the family at the moment.”
First Experiences in England
4:55 to 6:28
Alan describes his experience moving to England and playing at Blackburn.
“Obviously, in Ireland, there's Gaelic football and other sports.”
First Loan Experience at Plymouth
6:28 to 7:35
Alan recalls his time on loan at Plymouth Argyle and the challenges faced.
“And obviously, yeah, Blackburn have got a history of bringing players through.”
Managerial Influence at Plymouth
7:35 to 9:51
Alan talks about the influence of manager Paul Mariner during his time at Plymouth.
“But Blackburn kept to the old roots and had us doing, you know, stuff we should be doing.”
Return to Blackburn and Loan to Notts County
9:51 to 13:59
Alan reflects on his return to Blackburn and subsequent loan to Notts County.
“And, yeah, obviously no longer with us anymore, Paul, but obviously a legend at Itchwich Town.”
Early Career and Transfers
14:01 to 16:22
Alan Judge discusses his early career and the various club transfers he experienced.
“He did well for me and then Keith Curl came in.”
Show all 29 chapters
Promotion with Brentford
16:23 to 18:18
Judge shares his experience of getting promoted with Brentford and the emotional journey of that season.
“Yeah, but yeah, you go back to Blackburn, but obviously for the second time, it doesn't really work out.”
Playoff Battles and Rivalry
18:19 to 20:49
A discussion on the intense playoff battles and rivalries during his time in the Championship.
“Yeah, and obviously, Brentford then became dark horses in that championship season.”
Injury and Recovery Journey
20:50 to 23:49
Judge reflects on a serious injury that impacted his career and the lengthy recovery process.
“I think I was in and around the squad for nearly over a year until I got my debut.”
Playing for Ireland
23:50 to 25:28
He discusses his proud moment of representing Ireland and the challenges he faced.
“But I was quite adamant, even though I took away my Premier League dream, I knew I felt like I could get back in the Irish team and it was the main thing that I was striving to get back to.”
Coaching and Team Dynamics
25:29 to 27:59
An exploration of his experiences with different coaches and team dynamics at clubs.
“But, yeah, it was probably just, you know, frustration and happiness.”
Reflecting on Ipswich: Alan Judge's Arrival
28:00 to 29:25
Alan Judge shares his experiences and feelings about joining Ipswich Town amidst struggles.
“It's good for a club to remember you, you know what I mean?”
The Fans' Support During Tough Times
29:25 to 30:40
Judge reflects on the unexpected support from fans despite the team's relegation struggles.
“Yeah, I will admit, I think we always were destined to go down.”
Conversations with Marcus Evans and Transfer Saga
30:40 to 32:40
Alan discusses his communication with Ipswich owner Marcus Evans and the transfer dynamics.
“Yeah, and did you have an opportunity to speak to Marcus Evans?”
Personal Challenges Amidst Football
32:40 to 35:52
Judge opens up about personal struggles, including family health issues during his career.
“were getting a lot of, you know, and probably rightly so because fans didn't know the full, didn't know the full ins and outs of what had actually gone on.”
Paul Lambert's Management Style
35:52 to 37:50
Alan shares insights about working under manager Paul Lambert and the team's dynamics.
“And then obviously, you know, what happened in the summer takes a while to get over, you know, and I got, we finally got over kind of, as I said, January time.”
Memorable Moments in an Ipswich Shirt
37:50 to 40:08
Reflecting on key moments, including a critical FA Cup win during his time at Ipswich.
“Yeah, and, you know, things off the field and on the field.”
Impact of COVID-19 on Football
40:08 to 42:00
Judge discusses the challenges faced by players during the COVID-19 pandemic and its effects.
“But yeah, what was that like as a player?”
Alan Judge's Health Challenges
42:00 to 43:53
Explore the health struggles Alan Judge faced during his career, including COVID-19 and asthma.
“Yeah, I've never felt anything like that before.”
Coaching Changes and Contract Uncertainty
43:53 to 46:18
Alan discusses the impact of managerial changes on his contract and playing time at Ipswich Town.
“So Matt Gill, he would obviously, Paul Lambert was recovering from, I can't remember, he was sick for quite a while.”
Referee Incident Reflection
46:18 to 49:10
Judge reflects on the controversial referee incident involving Darren Drysdale and the aftermath.
“If a new ownership, I don't know how much it was to do with the new ownership at the time.”
Career at Ipswich Town
49:10 to 51:17
Alan shares his experiences and feelings about his time at Ipswich Town, including the challenges faced.
“I think anybody that can see the video, it's a pen.”
Injury Struggles and Future Aspirations
51:17 to 53:32
Alan discusses his injury struggles and his determination to continue playing football on his own terms.
“It was that much of a stutter coming back to football.”
Coaching Journey and Family Life
53:32 to 56:01
Judge talks about his transition into coaching, his family life, and his son's development in football.
“Ex-players, obviously, Chamber of Scuse, yourself, obviously, Freddie Sears.”
Alan Judge Reflects on His Future and Family
56:01 to 58:32
Alan Judge discusses his son's football journey, his coaching aspirations, and the future of Ipswich Town.
“And obviously now your son is, you know, in the academy.”
Transcript
Automatic transcript. May contain errors.0:00Ross Halls:Tyler Reddick here from 2311 Racing. Another checkered flag for the books. Time to celebrate with Chumba. Jump in at Chumbacasino.com. Let's Chumba. No purchase necessary. BTW Group. Void word prohibited by law. CTNC's 21 Plus. Sponsored by Chumba Casino.
0:23Ross Halls:Hello everybody, it's me Roscoe and welcome to the latest Kings of Anglia podcast special where I catch up with former players to talk about their time at Portman Road, their career and how they're doing now. And today I'm joined by a very special guest, Irishman and former town midfielder Alan Judge. Judge? Judgey? Thanks for joining my friend. How are you? I'm good, mate. Thanks for having me. Good to hear. Pleasure to have you on. You've made a good decision. Doing outside, my friend, because it is very hot at the moment as we record. I'm inside in this bit of a box room and I'm sweating buckets.
0:58Ross Halls:But, yeah, you're enjoying the sunshine, my friend? I am at the minute. As I said, I've managed to get the kids to bed. So I didn't think I'd have the time outside to do it. So I'm grateful I'm outside because I don't want to be sweating inside. Yeah, definitely. Because at night, I have to admit, I've got the fan on and yeah, it's very hot. Are you based in Suffolk still? Yeah, still in Ipswich. My son's in the academy at the moment. So once I was at Ipswich, we stayed in Ipswich. We loved it here. We loved living here. So we obviously were in London before we came here. And this is a lot calmer and a nice quieter, a lot quieter.
1:36So we're very happy with it.
1:38Ross Halls:Definitely, mate. And obviously you're at Braintree at the moment. How's that been the last few years? you know, dropping into the National League? Yeah, yeah, fine. It's just about, you know, playing as long as I can, really, at the moment. Obviously, unlucky, I sustained an injury quite late in my career. I think it was 34 when I did the triple knee rupture. And then when I got back coming from that, unlucky, I ripped my hamstring off the bone, which I think it was just a delay onset from the knee injury, you know. Maybe it wasn't strong enough coming back. But no, been all good. I've had a good year.
2:10I've had a year back playing. and, you know, just enjoying it. You know, it'll be 37 coming to the start of the season. So, play as long as you can.
2:19Ross Halls:Definitely, my friend. And we're going to go through your career, you know, the journey that it's been. You know, I think this is your 18th season coming up? Is it like that? As a pro, yeah, yeah. From making a first-team appearance, yeah, this will be 18. But I think overall I could be hitting 22, 22 seasons. Or pre-seasons, anyway. Yeah, definitely. And you're saying off record, you love this sort of time of year in terms of the summer, you know, and training in the heat? Yeah, yeah, I do. I'm a bit weird, you know, when you go abroad for, you know, warm weather training, I love all that kind of stuff.
2:50It's just dealing with it after. But usually when you're away, you get to go into an AC, into a nice cold room, but you don't care at the moment.
2:58Ross Halls:Yeah, but I can imagine those runs, you know, obviously you always get heard that first sort of week of pre-season zone runs, you know, but you've always been a fit lad and you probably love those. Yeah, well, the thing is, what I figured out at my age is I don't stop. From when the last season finished, I didn't really stop. I more or less got myself a few days off and I kept going because I think the older you are, the harder it is to get going. So I've made the decision to keep going. Definitely, definitely. Obviously, it's been an incredible journey for yourself, my friend. Born in Dublin, I'm in Ireland.
3:29Ross Halls:How was that? Let's sort of start from a young Alan Judge. Football, obviously your dad was a footballer. was always going to be your career? I think it kind of runs in the family at the moment. Well, it did with my dad. My dad did start off himself in Fulham. He played for Fulham when he was younger, so he was over in England. He got homesick around 18 years of age. You know, he came back, made a good career for himself in the Irish League. I think he was the first captain to lift the FAI Cup, which is the equivalent of the FA Cup in England, in the old Lansdowne Road. So it's something special that he was able to do.
4:03And I was mascot for that. I was two, I think I was. So, yeah, it was kind of, you know, I wouldn't say set in stone from now, but, yeah, came through grassroots. And then, funny enough, he was my coach, probably from under-11s up to 13s. And then when I moved abroad, I moved over when I was coming towards 15. Yeah, so it was in the family, I would say.
4:26Ross Halls:Yeah. And were you always like a midfielder, winger, like attacking player? Or did you just play everywhere? I was actually a striker when I moved over to England. So I was a striker. I played up front. I got signed at Blackburn as a striker. But then they quickly identified that. I think probably because of my work rate, really, that I could be better off playing in midfield. So, yeah, I kind of dropped back a bit and, you know, ultimately sent in midfield. Then got pushed out into the wing once or twice like a few managers did. But ultimately ended up back in the middle of the pitch. And did you play other sports as well?
4:59Ross Halls:Obviously, in Ireland, there's Gaelic football and other sports. Football, the main one for you? Yeah, yeah. I played it to get out of school. that was it. I did long distance running, I did GAA, I did Hurling, I did whatever I could to get out of school really. But no, football was the only one I ever played properly. Yeah, and obviously there's so many Irish players have come over to England. Was Blackburn sort of the first choice or the other opportunities you could come to? I think it was the first choice. I was lucky enough I had a few choices. I remember I think because Sheffield tonight, Liverpool and Celtic came in quite late for me.
5:34But once I went to Blackburn, I met the Irish boys that had gone over there, that were there at the time. It was just an easy choice. From the first team, we had Damien Duff coming down. Then I had players like Eddie Nolan, Keith Tracy, who I went over with. Jonathan Douglas was there as an older pro. So it was very easy to tick off. It ticked off all the right things for Irish players. And the way they were set up for the digs, it kept you out of trouble. Obviously, there was 24 of us in one big house, but we were in the middle of nowhere, so there was no trouble to be seen, which was probably the best thing coming through those years.
6:09Ross Halls:Yeah, definitely. Had you come over to England prior to that, with family holidays or anything like that? Well, I was lucky enough for international games with my youth ages and whatever. I'd been over a couple of times. Other than that, no, really. Every time I came over to England was usually for a trial or just to play football. Nice one. And obviously, yeah, Blackburn have got a history of bringing players through. Did you get home sick just like your dad or were you fine? No, I was pretty much couldn't wait to get over there. And the minute I left the house, I was never coming back off my own.
6:45It was as if I got sent back, but I wasn't good enough. That would be the only reason I'd be coming back. Yeah.
6:51Ross Halls:And how would you look back at your first spell, Blackburn? Obviously, we'll talk about your second spell. as you make two appearances in the cup but um that journey with blackbird off the premier league team at the time yeah brilliant i was learning off good managers i think when i went there was mark hughes i was lucky enough he brought me into the round the first team when i was 17 18 i was trying with them quite regularly come around then um and then i had paulins came through big sam there was a like there was a lot of managers that i um i got to learn off all different ways of playing But coming through the academy, yeah, it was brilliant.
7:23The way they kept their young boys grounded, the jobs they had them doing. Just because we were obviously, you know, the times aren't different to now really, where the young lads don't do too much jobs anymore. But Blackburn kept to the old roots and had us doing, you know, stuff we should be doing.
7:41Ross Halls:So to clean boots, did you have any particular ply you had to do? Exactly, yeah. Two guys. I was quite lucky. I think of a lot of people. We did have a boot man, but we always helped them out. When you got promoted up to the reserves near the first team, you didn't have to do the boots. But when you were younger, when you were still coming through a scholar, you had to clean boots. Wow, two guys. What player he was. I'm sure he was a character. He's honestly still probably one of the best I've ever watched. I don't think you realise how good he is until you actually watch him and get to see him and train.
8:12It's just someone who never had to leave the centre circle. and you know he was probably playing his best football come the end of his career I think he was about 35 36 and Mark Hughes looked after him and so did them you know Big Sam they looked after
8:25Ross Halls:him really well to get him playing all the time yeah definitely and obviously like any player you get an opportunity to go out on loan and when I was doing my research and obviously I knew this before but I want to do some more research but obviously you go to Plymouth so from going over to Ireland and go to Blackburn and then you go down the other side of the country the Plymouth That must have been a mad time as a young lad as well. Yeah, it was strange enough. I just chanced my hand. Paul Gallagher was there on loan and I always come to the stage where I wasn't. I was in the round of first team, but you obviously have to buy your time.
8:55But I was, you know, not getting fed up with reserve football, but I needed proper football. And I just chanced my hand. Paul Gallagher was on loan there from Blackburn at the time. I said, does your manager need a midfielder slash winger? Next thing I knew, I was on a plane down to Plymouth and I played, funny enough, my first game against Ipswich at Portman Road. I came home for a few minutes.
9:17Ross Halls:Oh, wow. So I didn't dig that deep to look at my research on that. But yeah, Plymouth, I've been there many times as a fan slash as a photographer and it is a long, long way. And I'm sure as a player, that must be your own little bubble there, I can imagine. You are, but it's a lovely place. Plymouth, it's unbelievable. When I went down there, I loved it. hence obviously why I went down for a second season you know being a young lad not many people get to go on loan for the first loan to the championship you know never mind getting into League 1 or League 2 but the fact I was lucky enough to go on loan to the championship it was a big thing and I loved it down there the place everything was brilliant and yeah when you're at that age the way I think about it you shouldn't be thinking where you're going if you're playing football you're playing football that's it really definitely and yeah you played like you know over 50 times for Plymouth in all competitions so that's good sort of grounding for you playing week in week out and there's one manager you played under obviously got town roots Paul Mariner obviously relegation unfortunately in the end with Plymouth but what was Paul like as a manager yeah Paul was good real motivator you know um it was it was a bit strange he came in to work he worked under Paul's store uh first year around he stayed up but then we kind of started the second year when I went back you could see the problems were starting to come as in with the club I think they went into administration the year after that I was right after I'd left after a few of us had left but Paul was a great guy you know really enjoyed playing for him and I learned a lot under him because it was a difficult time for me my second spell as in you know I got used to playing and I got taken out of the team and you know being a young lad wanting to go out more than I should be you learned a lot and he was quite good with me he He wasn't an old-school type of manager that might push you to the side.
11:03He looked after you.
11:06Ross Halls:That's good. And, yeah, obviously no longer with us anymore, Paul, but obviously a legend at Itchwich Town. And then, yeah, obviously at Blackburn, was there any chance of you getting in the team or was another loan spell likely to happen? It was a bit of a funny one because I came back and I was with the first team. And then, as I said, the year at Plymouth, the second year at Plymouth didn't go to plan because obviously I probably didn't look after him. I did, you know, probably too much going out. Not that I was going out drinking or whatever. Just, you know, got used to playing, stopped doing the hard work I was doing.
11:38And I think that gave me a reset because then I had to go on loan to Notts County in League One. So I think that was kind of giving me the kick in the backside that I needed. Because obviously, whatever I was doing cost me my chance at Blackburn. And, you know, I had to drop down two leagues, let alone back down to the championship. I had to drop down two leagues. So, yeah. But then Knox County was, again, brilliant. I love living in Nottingham.
12:02Ross Halls:Yeah, and obviously I'm having a big club, really, Knox County. But I always think this, as a player, at that age as well, you must have been like 20, 21, something like that. And you are just being a young lad. You're doing what young lads do. Obviously, you are a professional footballer. That's the thing with fans. Maybe not think about that side of it. But for you, you're sort of just living your life. Well, I wasn't going out all the time. I'd go out on Saturday after a game or whatever. And then it'd be different because I was used to playing and then taking, not playing, that side of it, it's hard to get used to.
12:31But it was funny enough, when I went back, it was Big Sam who was the manager at the time. He told me openly, because he plays a certain way, that I'm not going to play under him. You know, I did play a little bit under him the first time, but the second time he said, we're going to be playing this way, you're not really going to get any game time. I think it's best you go on loan. And then obviously I made my loan permit at the Christmas time in Notts County. but, you know, when a manager's honest with you, that's all you need. I think that gets miscued a lot. I think when a player gets honesty, that's all they want.
13:03Ross Halls:Yeah, and obviously, as I said, Knox County, a pretty big club. You obviously play under a few managers there. Any notable names you want to talk about? There's also another town connection there. Chris Quamia was your manager later on at Knox County as well. Yeah, Chris was there. So I went and signed under Craig Short, who I had at Blackburn. he was one of the centre-halves when I came through the academy he was really good you know looked after the younger lad so when I knew Shorty wanted me I went straight there obviously again wanted to play and obviously Shorty didn't last too long and then Paul came in it was a bit of a conveyor belt I've not counted at the time to be honest I think I had six or seven managers in two years but I had Chris towards the end and along with him and I think Keith Cole before him they got the best out of me especially Keith Cole he got the best out of me when he had the job there.
13:53Ross Halls:He's done a pretty good job in terms of League 1, League 2. He's done some good jobs there. Is he in the job now? I don't know. I'm not sure. It was Martin Allen. He did well for me and then Keith Curl came in. The both of them took me off the wing and put me in the number 10 slot slash midfield. I never really looked back from there after that. That's good. I've just had a quick look. He's not in management. Last job was at Hartlepool. He's done obviously a good job. at Carlisle and other clubs like that. Obviously, Nost County, you're there as a permanent player now. What was that like, just adapting and not being at Blackburn?
14:28Ross Halls:As you said, you adapted in Nottingham because it's obviously a lovely city. Yes, it was. I literally, me and my partner, got an apartment straight across from the stadium. I literally was there. Anywhere I've been, we've moved right close to where everything is, where the training ground is, etc. We loved it there. I always had in the back of my mind, maybe we could move back up around there. but it wasn't a B. We managed to settle pretty nicely here. Yeah. And then obviously you then returned to Blackburn. So did you have to reroute back to Blackburn? I did. It was funny at the time because I came down to Ipswich.
15:03After that, I was down. I was in Mick's office, Mick McCarty's office, trying to do the deal, signing it. And I think Marcus went on holiday. And my partner was heavily pregnant with our first child. And I think Marcus is away in America. I was waiting for the deal to be done. Mick might say something was different, but then Blackburn came back home. It was a club where I felt like I had something to prove. I wanted to go back. They say you shouldn't probably go back, but I went back. When I did go back there, I didn't realise it probably wasn't the club that I'd left. Obviously, the Benkees had taken over, and there was a lot of issues there that Gary Bowie was trying to sort out at the time, and I don't think he really was allowed.
15:48But it was definitely because of my old club. I had to go back. I felt like I needed to or I wanted to.
15:54Ross Halls:Yeah, I was going to ask you about the itch, which, you know, getting close. It was just basically Blackburn came in. That was probably the big reason. That was it. And obviously, if Marcus was in England at the time or chairman or whoever it was at the time, the deal would have been done. I would have been signed. I would have been there. It would have been over and done in two days. But I had to wait a week or two. And obviously, things can happen then. Yeah, and obviously you go and join town, obviously in a different situation than what it was then. Obviously Mick was just still only sort of new in the door.
16:25Starting off, really, yeah.
16:26Ross Halls:Yeah, but yeah, you go back to Blackburn, but obviously for the second time, it doesn't really work out. You know, what sort of happened? Strange, I started the first five, six games, did really well. Daughter was born, had to wait to get back in. I was told I'd be back in the week after and then there you go. you start to hear things about a month or two later where you're not back in from people from above. You've just got to get on with it. Realistically, these extremely high-paid players at the club at the time had to play. So I wanted to play. So I'm not one for sitting around if I'm not playing football.
17:05Football's very short, so it's just about playing for me. So I wanted to go play, and Brentford came knocking. It was a shame because I actually was enjoying my second time at Blackburn. And it just, you know, it was one of those things in football.
17:16Ross Halls:Yeah. And obviously, Brentford at the time, they were sort of building. Obviously, they've done very well since then. But then you had to then move to London. Did you then settle there quickly or did you have to sort of wait and, you know? Yeah, we were. Well, it was initially a long move to the end of the season. I couldn't have asked for a better club and a better start for me, really. Everything went to plan for me. I went down there. I was playing. I was contributing we got promoted yeah it was brilliant and then obviously we just had to wait I made it clear we got promoted I wanted to stay at Brentford so we just had to wait for Blackburn to agree to deal with Brentford and I think that was done pretty easily Now I'm sure those celebrations were amazing you know getting promoted with a team you know obviously running us up in League One Brentford obviously getting in the Championship I think it's been so long for them to get back in the second tier and you know it must have been great as a player to be part of that it was it was because we had a feeling we'd get promoted but it happened on the weekend that we didn't expect and I think it made that even more special I think it was Easter weekend I think we had to have two or three results go for us and they all went for us and we won our game and it just I don't think it really sunk in until halfway through the summer you know after we you know the owner had looked after us so well you know end of season trips everything and then when you had a little bit of time for it to sink in you don't realise not many people get to have promotions in their CV.
18:45Ross Halls:Yeah, and obviously, Brentford then became dark horses in that championship season. Obviously, town were obviously getting into playoffs that year as well. And I still remember the games against Brentford and Ichwich. I still remember Boxing Day, which won 4-2. Sorry to remind you if you played that game. It was a really good game there. And obviously, yeah, we were just on fire at that point. We were like, you know, chasing automatics. In the end, it didn't work out. But we obviously met, or we're both in the playoffs. We had Norwich. You had Borough. for you personally as a player that must have been great you know you're playing week and week at the championship and playing really well Yeah it was, it was literally you know I think we just took the championship by surprise I don't think people actually thought or knew how good our team was we recruited well in that summer we got some good players in and yeah as I said I think we just took people by surprise especially like certain games we're playing Leeds United I don't think they expect us to get anything out of it.
19:39But, yeah, I do fondly, I do, well, not fondly, I do remember you was beating us 4-2 on Boxing Day. I think Murph scored literally in the first kick of the game, 10 seconds in. And you just, you know, you just knew how to play against us on that day. And I think in fact, we drew one all. It was the second game after. Possibly. Yeah, but, yeah. And we both got to the playoffs. So it was both two good seasons for both of us. I think, on the Brentford side, though, you know, to nearly get back-to-back promotions, but to be in a round of playoffs, straight after getting promoted from League One, it was amazing.
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20:16It was amazing and the team did really well.
20:19Ross Halls:Yeah, and obviously that season as well, Jonathan Douglas was on fire for you guys and obviously he came to town, I think actually, you know, shortly after that and it didn't work out for him, but for me, I always knew he was a good player, but just that town, it just didn't work out, but like him as a bloke, he's such a nice guy and he was a good player as well, it just didn't work out in the end. Yeah, so I obviously played with Dougie for, obviously I knew Dougie at Blackburn but then I got to know Dougie a lot more at Brentford the minute I got in the door at Brentford he looked after me straight away, he has that kind of aura about him, he just you know, seems like he's grumpy or whatever which he is, but he looks after his players and one of the best guys I've played football with to be honest with you just in many ways off the pitch, on the pitch I know it didn't work for him at Ipswich but that can happen it's just the way it goes but it definitely worked for him well at Brentford when he was there Obviously the following season you were on fire again my friend winning awards left, right and centre and obviously you get an opportunity to play for Ireland that must have been an honour for you, a proud Irishman winning that first cap Yeah it was and I was waiting a long time Martin O 'Neill doesn't want to give out caps quite easily.
21:34So I had to bide my time. I think I was in and around the squad for nearly over a year until I got my debut. It's the way Martin kind of works. You have to earn your stripes really. You have to be doing the training, meeting up with the squads to get into his team. I think that's what made it even more sweet. You had to do that and when you got the chance, it was brilliant. They got to play at home in the Aviva. So, against a good team like Switzerland, everything was just going right for me that season. Yeah
22:01Ross Halls:And then Obviously sadly An itchwich connection Happens A game at Porton Road And obviously An itchwich boy Luke Hyam Obviously he's been Spoken about I've actually had Luke On the podcast To talk about that incident And obviously Yeah An injury It happens in football Obviously it was a bad Injury on you And how do you Sort of reflect on that I'm sure you've spoken About it You know at the time You probably don't Think too much Because I was thinking Right I got told Nine months Ten months I'll be back Be back playing But then obviously The leg didn't heal right so they had to re-break it and do the operation again so i ended up being out nearly 20 months 22 months so nearly two years so you know time starts to eat away at you you know brentford were moving on obviously lucky enough brentford looked after me they they rewarded me i think on both parties they knew i was going to go in the summer but they also looked after me by renewing my contract for two years.
22:56I think it was two, three years, not because of my injury, but because of what I'd done for them on the pitch. So I think it worked both ways. And I think it was a really nice gesture from them. And I think it was the right thing in both parts for us that I stayed there, you know, tried to get back to what I was. But when I came back, I was coming back to a team that had Olly Watkins and Ben Rama and Neil Moe Ply, Romain Sawyer. So my position wasn't really in the team at the time. It was a he switched to a 4-3-3. He didn't play with a number 10. So I was getting, you know, not frustrated. I was getting played in a position that it just didn't suit me.
23:34So that's just the way it goes. You know, it's not a bad three players to have to sit behind them.
23:39Ross Halls:Yeah, definitely. And do you look back much about that injury? Obviously, you know, there's always that like what if moment. Obviously, Euro 2016 and Premier League and the rest. It did. It took it away because obviously it took away my Premier League dream. and took away my Eurostream. But I was quite adamant, even though I took away my Premier League dream, I knew I felt like I could get back in the Irish team and it was the main thing that I was striving to get back to. I tried not to think too much on what could have been because even though, as I said, I had agreed my move to a Premier League team, there's no point in going back and you'll only make yourself a bit more better.
24:18So, I think like most things, I just have to take in my stride. and I just felt like the Ireland thing was more reachable and more important to me.
24:33Ross Halls:Yeah, definitely. I'm sure your dad was very proud when you won your first Irish Cup. Yeah, definitely. These things you don't forget. Not many people get to play for the country and it doesn't matter if you're playing for Ireland, England, Jamaica, wherever. Nobody can take it away from you that you play for your country. How do you look back at your Irish spell playing for Ireland? You've won a good amount of caps you probably wish you could have won more, won nine, scored one goal obviously against USA, that must have been a problem what do you do with your caps? Have you got them anywhere?
25:06I've actually got them stored away just looking for, when you've got three kids you haven't got much space to be putting your own stuff but look back at Ireland as in enjoyment frustration but obviously extremely happy to get back playing for them obviously felt like I would have got more caps minus the injury but it was great I did everything you know I got back I contributed in European qualifiers I scored a goal I set up a goal funny enough the goal I set up I broke my wrist the minute after I was at Ipswich at the time and I think Mick said it straight after the game he said if I didn't have bad luck, I'd have no luck at all.
25:50But, yeah, it was probably just, you know, frustration and happiness. I know that sounds weird saying that, but, again, I got to play for my country and not many people get to do that.
26:01Ross Halls:Definitely. And obviously, Mick finally gets his man, you know, he was a player for Ireland. Yeah, Mick was. Obviously, I spoke to Mick about me playing when I was signing a new contract at Ipswich because, obviously, we knew we were going down. but I was happy I'd switch and I spoke to Mick saying would this affect my Irish chances and whatever and he was like no as long as you're playing you're happy I'm going to be having you in the team you're going to be in and around the squad whilst I wasn't a starter for Mick I was always his first sub under him more or less his first sub so for him to show that faith to me it was great and to know I was settled it was pretty good Definitely and obviously at Brentford I want to quickly mention one man who's recently gone to Spurs Thomas Frank you played under him briefly did you know how good he was going to be what he's done there?
26:51Yeah well the thing is when I was there Thomas started off it was a sticky situation for Thomas he took over after Dean Smith and I think he might have lost his first eight or nine games in a row but we knew he was tweaking little things he was changing the formation we were going from a 4-3-3 maybe switching to that 3-4-3 formation he's very very meticulous in everything he does his training is probably one of the best I've done as in the intensity just everything is prepared right it's just yeah so I'm not surprised to see Thomas doing what he's doing and over the years he's done it at Brentford so yeah good luck to him and honestly I wish him all the best because I generally think he's a great manager
27:31Ross Halls:yeah hopefully he does get a chance I'm not one, I didn't start under him too many times but I really enjoyed Rook he was one of those that looked after his squad not just his 11 that's good yeah good man and manager and I'm sure you loved your spell at Brentford. You must have been enjoying their rise, obviously now their established Premier League team. Yes, I still go back. I get invited back quite regularly, so I go back and I watch them when I can, when I get a free weekend. So it's nice to see old faces. It's good for a club to remember you, you know what I mean? So it's good to go back and I get to watch them play and there's some players that I still know there, so it's quite good.
28:12Ross Halls:That's good And then obviously Yeah The move to it Was coming about In January Obviously we're struggling At the time Under Paul Lambert In the Championship As a player You must look at that And go Do I really want to go there But if you know You're going to be playing You know And obviously You're going to be In a way You're a sort of Star signing I think there are So many fans Happy Oh my God What's on Alan Judge What was that like As a player You know I was still At the time I played a bit Coming back from Brentford I did play a bit Under Thomas You know When there was a few injuries I played a bit Under Thomas but I knew that was only going to last so long until he got his front three because he was, again, I go on about managers being honest.
28:47He said to me he prefers playing Watkins, Benrahman, Mopoi. Again, honesty, that's great. At least you're telling me that. I know I'm not working away at something that I don't need to work on. So I knew I had to go play football. And obviously, coming back from a serious injury, you know, Ipswich took the gamble. There was one or two other teams, but Ipswich stood out to me. I knew they were in the position that they were going to go down. We knew that. They were 20 points. But when I spoke to Paul on the phone and then I got there, the first six weeks of the training, it was unbelievable. It was lovely.
29:21And then I think I signed a new contract after six weeks. So I think it showed how much I was actually enjoying it and how much I wanted to be there.
29:30Ross Halls:Yeah, I will admit, I think we always were destined to go down. Obviously, what happened in the summer, obviously, a new manager came in, obviously, because Mick went. And then Paul Hurst came in. but it didn't really work out with him. And then, obviously, Paul Amit came in and there was a little bit of hope there. Obviously, you got the fan base together again. I'm sure as a player, you felt like, wow, this is weird. The fans are really on the players' side right now. They're a struggling team, but obviously, a relegation, the fans were sort of clapping. It was more just... It's... This is what I've never...
29:58Well, I've said it to a few players. I couldn't believe how good the fans were to us on the last day against Birmingham. We knew we were down, I have to say. If we could have just turned... I think we drew eight or nine games in a row, one off. If we could have just had that striker, that could have put those chances away because we were making them. We could have had a chance. I think people knew that. But yeah, I was a bit embarrassed, but also happy thinking, this is crazy. I've never seen a team getting clapped off for being relegated. Do you know what I mean? I was just like, didn't know what way to take it.
30:38to be honest.
30:40Ross Halls:Yeah, and did you have an opportunity to speak to Marcus Evans? Because obviously you could have said to him, I could have signed for you earlier, mate, but you know, you weren't on a day. Yeah, well, obviously you come to it, but me and Marcus had plenty of conversations come the summertime with obviously what was going to go on with QPR coming in for me. But, yeah, no, we joked once or twice saying I could have been here a lot earlier, but that was just it. But I was coming to prove myself at that time. I hadn't played 22 games in a row for two years and the fact that I got 22 games in a row from the minute I got in the door I think it proved that I was you know I could stay fit you know what I mean the injuries that I'd sustained in my career were were contact injuries there's nothing you can do about it Yeah and yeah obviously it became a bit of a summer saga didn't it a transfer saga of like will he go will he leave you know what's going to happen is he going to stay and obviously pre-season we're in Germany and the UPR interest there's bids rejected here and there sort of chance to sort of talk about it because yeah um obviously it's Mark Warburton you know reuniting with him but um yeah what sort of went on?
31:45Well I think because it was kept I think fans kind of found out towards the end around October in Auburn what had really got on. Obviously my daughter needed two operations we were based around the area in London I was at Brownford my family still lived there while we were looking for somewhere to move down and obviously you think family comes first so i was like obviously championship football as well can't you're not gonna lie takes that and after the injury i had i was like no i might come around again but i never ever got to the stage where i'm not going to try not going to do it the minute marcus said on the phone you're not going that was it i moved on and marcus and i will say to my paul is that they helped me relocate my family really well with my daughter having the operations this that and the that was all handled pretty well.
32:34So I was very happy. It was just frustrating that I wasn't brought out to the fans earlier what actually was going on because obviously my family and myself were getting a lot of, you know, and probably rightly so because fans didn't know the full, didn't know the full ins and outs of what had actually gone on. Probably still don't. So it was just, you know, once I got my say, I think people realise it's family.
32:58Ross Halls:Yeah, that's what I mean. Once again, you aren't just a robot. you are who and being you have family and you know you obviously have family comes first and i think fans are just like excited how alan judging league one because they're obviously they're really excited when you signed that original deal and it's like oh no he's now leaving because we've been going down but yeah there's other things in play um but obviously you do stay and uh then you had to leave to get over yeah yeah i know i really said it took that took me a while to get over i don't think until january february that i started getting back to my normal myself after that.
33:29Yeah.
33:29Ross Halls:And, yeah, you obviously had your hand injury as well. I remember taking some pictures of you in pre-season. You had that on. I couldn't train with the team. I was not in contact for ages. So I wasn't fully fit. I couldn't do the training the boys were doing. So that was another thing. So I had another, while I was getting back, I still had from September six, seven weeks of trying to catch up to the lads, which isn't easy when you're playing Saturday, Tuesday, and you're required to play some minutes. And obviously you want to start games, but you're not fit enough to start games. Definitely.
33:59Ross Halls:Your daughter's all good now, I can imagine? Yeah, put us gold. That's good. That's good. And yeah, then obviously it was the league one tour. There was like a bit of like 100 points, 100 goals. We had a really good start to that season. And then, I don't know, I don't know what happened. Like as a player point of view, what do you think happened? Did you just run out of steam? I don't know. I think it's just maybe Paul might say it himself. He might not. I think there was too many changes to the team. I think we lost that kind of, the first 10 games we were just blowing teams away. And then we kind of probably lost that bit of connection when there was, you know, rightly so, there was a lot of games.
34:38So I think there was over 50, 55 games in League One. So the squad does have to be used. So I think then we became a bit more disjointed. We didn't know, certain players didn't know what they were doing, this, that and the other. But yeah, it's just one of those things that happened. I don't know. and then obviously COVID happened in March and that was it, we were done.
35:01Ross Halls:And let's talk about Paul Lambert because obviously he came in and he sort of brought the fan base back together, brought in the former players and stuff and it was a good start for him, in the end it didn't really work out but like him as a character, obviously a really good footballing career, how was he as a manager and obviously there was that hand-holding thing, you know obviously at that time it was like oh yes togetherness but in the end it was like oh and obviously a lot of people were sort of criticising us about that or they thought they'd won the league already in October and in the end, you know, we got a lot of slap for that.
35:31Ross Halls:But what was that like as a player as well? So my relationship, me and Paul were topsy-turvy at times because obviously what happened with the QPR thing, but from when I first came in the door, brilliant, perfect. Good man management, he looked after me really well. He had me playing the way I wanted to play. I was playing in the middle of the pitch. I was loving it, perfect. And then obviously, you know, what happened in the summer takes a while to get over, you know, and I got, we finally got over kind of, as I said, January time. And as I was trying to get going again, COVID hit. So we were, we were all separated from then.
36:06I think until, if I'm going to say June, till June, July time, until we could do preseason. And then that, we started off well. I'd gone really well with him then. And then I had the situation with my mother back home. And I have to say, he was top on that. anything I needed, anything I wanted to do, as in going back. So I would go back, play, go back, play when we were allowed to fly again. So he was on a personal level, he looked after me really well after having that. We had that turbulent time at this midway through, but come towards the end, especially with what was happening with my family back home in Dublin, couldn't ask of any more of them.
36:47Ross Halls:And yeah, obviously, sadly your mum passed away and obviously that's another thing, you know your human being you know when i'm sure i'm a mommy's boy i love my mom um and that affects you know anybody yeah so the way that was working was obviously we found out during covid that she had cancer i couldn't fly we couldn't do anything obviously we got long story short got told she had more time than she did but she was wrong or whatever was going on in the end so coming towards the end i was flying playing on a saturday i'd fly home and Saturday night, maybe Sunday morning, come back, play, come back Tuesday morning, play Tuesday night, then fly back.
37:25I did that for, I think, about six weeks consecutively. And I did that because, obviously, Paul left halfway through that. And then it kind of continued on a little bit when Paul Cook was there. But, you know, as I said, with Paul Lambert, anything I needed to do regarding that, he did it. And, you know, not funny enough, it coincided probably with my best football at Ipswich from when I first got there. to when I left there. You know, I was playing my best football. It's just strange how things work out.
37:53Ross Halls:Yeah, and, you know, things off the field and on the field. Obviously, we were struggling on the field as well. I want to bring up a few moments, though, in a town shirt, because I still remember this day, because I was just like, thankfully, we finally win a game in the FA Cup. It was like 10 years since we've won an FA Cup game. And, of course, you're a late winner at Lincoln City. And I was right in front of it, because I was pitch-side taking pictures. And I was just like, I was like, oh, God, I'm going to go to extra time. And it was like a Tuesday night or something. and it was cold. I was like, please, someone score.
38:18Ross Halls:And out of nowhere, you score a great goal. Well, the thing with that was I was away with Ireland. So I had just done 10 days and, you know, still getting my fitness back. I think it was October time, was it? It could be somewhere around. So we're doing the international break. It's always coming back, expecting not to be involved in the game. And then I get a call late, late the night before the game, saying I had to play in the game, which is fine. But obviously I didn't get in until really late, et cetera, from being away with the Irish team and having great success there. So going up there and then going to play the game, I was so happy the ball felt to me at that time just because I was so tired from, after being away for the 10 days with Ireland, playing the two games and having a good time with them on the last night, not knowing that I had to go back and play for a game.
39:08Yeah, it was great. And then I didn't know, I didn't realise that Ipswich hadn't won an FA Cup game for that long.
39:13Ross Halls:Yeah, it was a very long time. And we've lost, obviously, fair enough, we lost against Lincoln when we were a championship team. And they were a non-league team, you know, like five years prior. That's when obviously under Mick McCarthy. So it was like sort of breaking that sort of horrible sort of record in a way. And that was your first goal for the club as well. So it was probably nice for you to sort of go, OK, I got off my back now. And you went on to score a few more, of course. Yeah, yeah, it was nice. Because the season before, obviously, in the chat, I was so unlucky. I was just unlucky ever.
39:40I could have hit the post, I don't know, I think about five or six times when I was there in the first season. So just a nice to get that off my back and, you know, get going, really. And as I said, I went on to score quite a few more there after that. So it was nice.
39:52Ross Halls:Yeah, definitely. And yeah, obviously I was looking at that. That was the first round replay. So we had to obviously, we drew at Portman Road and then obviously we had to go to Sinsel Bank and get the win. But that was like, yeah, finally we won the FA Cup game. And obviously that season was the season when COVID was curtailed. And obviously we finished like 11th or something stupid. But yeah, what was that like as a player? I've obviously spoken to a few players since then about COVID. Yeah, it must have been hard as a player. Your job sort of stopped for a moment now. Obviously, I know other people had worse things happening.
40:22Yeah, definitely.
40:23Ross Halls:That must have been tricky though. Okay, we're not going to be able to play for a while. It was because obviously it was a new virus unknown and then we were getting asked to go back in and play football, which I had no problem with personally. but a few others did because certain people in their family had underlying issues which be like well i'm not can't come in contact with them because i could spread an infection and we did have a few mishaps it did happen it was just like it happens out of nowhere someone had covered don't know how they got it but they got it but uh yeah because it was something new i think people were very anxious and apprehensive about going back and playing because they didn't know if they'd be okay but when we got going the minute we got back everything was doing properly it was great like we i'll be honest we were one of the lucky ones that we could do that other people have to stay at home and do nothing why that sounds great for some people or some people like that not many people do and it's not good for your mental health and etc especially if you you don't have anywhere to go or get out and do anything yeah and it's bloody heat jeez you don't want to you want to go outside and do things but you know thankfully we're out of that now and you know um but i sort of read you obviously you got covid and i saw that you've got asthma as well So does that affect football at all?
41:40Ross Halls:Do you have to have an inhaler or anything when you play? Yeah, I got it quite bad. So I think I've had COVID three times. So, you know, yeah, bad. It's the worst thing I've probably ever felt, I'll be honest with you. My asthma didn't get any worse or anything like that. So I was okay on that time. But otherwise, dizziness spells, all that kind of stuff. Yeah, I've never felt anything like that before. Funny enough, I played a game for Colchester against Rochdale, I think it was. I actually had COVID. I thought I was just unwell. I was all over the place. I don't know how I managed to get through the game.
42:16I came home after, tested myself. It was. I still count myself as lucky that we were lucky people that could get out and exercise and whatever and still get to do our job.
42:30Ross Halls:Have you had asthma since you were a kid? Oh, yeah. I've had asthma since I was six years old. I was a little younger. four or five years of age, I've always had it, still have it. Always have to take proper precautions, you know, before games and stuff. So, yeah. Yeah, and then, obviously, it's like, you know, your mum passes away and in that period, obviously, Paul Cook is coming in and Paul Cook obviously become the demolition man and the situation with your contract and you had like one more start, wasn't it, for you, that trigger to happen? So, that must have been as a play, like, I think, you know, one more game hopefully they didn't read the contracts you know you know what because everything had gone on I wasn't really sure what was that I had in the contract but obviously when he told me it was kind of out of the blue because I was playing I felt like I was playing well under him as I said I was probably playing my best football again toward the end I have switched and I think that's when people probably realised if Georgie's going then I think everybody's kind of at risk here you know Flynn was put into reserves, Caden was put into the reserves, Wolfie was put into the reserves, Scusey was let go, Chamberlain was let go.
43:46And I do remember when Cookie came in, we were fourth in the league. We were fourth in the league when he came in. So we were doing all right. So Matt Gill, he would obviously, Paul Lambert was recovering from, I can't remember, he was sick for quite a while. So Matt Gale was more or less taking the team for the four weeks that he was kind of gone and here and there. And he got us up to fourth in the league, if I'm right in saying. So for us to finish where we finished that season was a bit, that was a hard one to take because we were in there and we were about it. You know, and I was looking forward to working with Paul.
44:20It's just one of those things. He wanted to change the team and that was fair enough. And it was just surprising the way it was done, I'll be honest.
44:28Ross Halls:yeah but you know i'm sure you're obviously experienced enough and you know football is ruthless and stuff like that and but the thing is like paul lambert a year prior signed a five-year deal which i think a lot of fans are like okay because we obviously were struggling then like yeah seeing a manager sign a five-year deal as a player you think okay this is now we're settled here but obviously results won't go in the way and obviously he gets the sack anyway but that's i mean things things happen above you that you don't know anything about so your job is just to try, do what you can do on the pitch.
44:57And I thought personally at the time, with everything that was going on, whatever, I was playing well at the time. So I kind of thought, there's a chance I could be staying there. And we were, I was hopeful I was going to stay here. But, you know, when you see him, quote himself, I'm an addition man.
45:14Ross Halls:But yeah, obviously, yeah, Paul Cook, you know, was that conversation said about, you know, your contract? No, he just pulled me in just the day before. He said, I look at your contract, you can make one more start. and I'm not going to renew it, so you can play for me, but that will be coming off the bench. And I said, well, that's not fair to me. I'm playing with no rewards, so as in I'm risking myself, could get injured. So we came to a mutual thing that I best off that I just don't play again. So, and I think everybody kind of understood that, you know, generally I got a good reception back from the fans after they heard what had gone on really.
45:54and etc. So, it is what it is. I think at the time I said that, this is football, nothing surprises me. You just have to get on with it. Yeah.
46:03Ross Halls:Yeah, it's just a shame how it's all ended because, yeah, you plan well, you plan week in, week out and you felt like, okay, obviously a new ownership comes in and there's like a new era coming out of town. Obviously, there was going to be money spent but you would think, oh, hopefully I can be part of this but, yeah, it's football.
46:20Yeah, but that's the way it is. If a new ownership, I don't know how much it was to do with the new ownership at the time. I think Park came in the markets and he was just, I think he was hell-bent on making it a team. And that is totally fine. You know, you've just got to get on with it.
46:34Ross Halls:And well, Alan, judging, so I just went very formal, Alan. We've got to obviously talk about an incident during your time in town as well before we sort of sum up your career at Portland Road. Obviously, the referee incident with Darren Drysdale where he squared up to you. Obviously, that was in COVID times behind closed doors and stuff. but obviously there was a lot of footage, a lot of pictures as well. How do you look back at that incident and sort of tell your side of the story? I know there's stuff out there, but how do you reflect on it? How I reflect on it, it was probably the most surprising thing ever, and I'm still waiting for a proper apology for him lying in a statement.
47:11You know, when you have Mike Jones, the head of the PGML, come to you personally apologising for what has been done, you know you've not done anything wrong. and I had all the video evidence I had shown everything which the FA had got at the time so I was a bit surprised especially when I tried to help him and I said I didn't want him charged I didn't want anything to do because I was going through stuff my own at the time it was just surprising obviously we have we at the club had audio footage we had video footage that cleared everything up but obviously once you're beaten with a brush at times in the media people just want to jump on it and when i'd proven that i was innocent they weren't really bothered about hearing it so i just left it be and i think it's could be best off left yeah very much so yeah
48:01Ross Halls:because obviously he said that you've said some bad words um well so if i said bad words why didn't he send me off when he sent flint off after let that work in people's minds if i actually said something to him do you know what i mean i think he was a bit unsteady throughout the whole game anyway from what I remember of the game so it is what it is. You see the image of him he just looks like insane. I come back from disbelief and I remember shouting over to the forward official saying have you just seen what he's doing and they were like he just said to me the forward official they're dealing with upstairs and I said that's fine I walked off the pitch I had I think it was Stuart Hayton at the time chief I think he might have been one of the officials at the club asking me did I want to get involved and get them charged I had the PGMOL asked me as well and I said no I want nothing to do with it I said once we've crossed the white line it's finished it's over and done with but then obviously he decided to release a statement that was totally false so you have to point back when you know that someone's doing wrong Definitely and do you think that would have happened in like a normal like state like if the fans were in the crowd No I think I'm not going to make excuses for them but it was a hard time for everybody yeah do you know what i mean and i do know refs do get a lot of stuff and whatever but you know that was a tough time for everybody so as i said it is what it is we got the outcome that we thought was right and i think i was we were i would have been charged i would have been charged if i did that and right and there was or anything wrong so it is just the way it is and we just want to leave it and pass on from it now definitely it was definitely a pen though wasn't It's definitely a pen, you know.
49:46I think anybody that can see the video, it's a pen. Yeah. It's something anyway. It's either a pen or a free kick.
49:53Ross Halls:Oh, definitely. Yeah. Incredible. But, yeah, obviously, come out of COVID, obviously, we've had that little moment with, you know, Paul Cook coming in. Obviously, fans are coming in the crown a little bit. But, obviously, you leave. You know, obviously, a lot of players leave. You know, obviously, some big, you know, you mentioned Scusi, Chamber, they leave. It was like a big departure. how do you sort of sum up your town at a time at town and it sort of felt like you went in the back door, it felt like you didn't get a chance to say goodbye Yeah but that was the time and I say this in the best way, Ipswich was the right club for me maybe just at the wrong time the situation the club was in when I went there we were told we were going to spend money in League One when we went down I think we got Nors in for free and bought Kane for half a million that's not really spending money.
50:45Do you know what I mean? So, Paul did deal with a lot of the team that was left over from the year before. Maybe he didn't get to put in the players he wanted to put in, you know, spending the money he wanted to. But no, as I said, it was definitely the right club for me. I always felt like there was always something throughout my career that when I had the connections with Ipswich that I'd end up there. But obviously, maybe just at the wrong time. But I did enjoy my time there. I just wish I could have played in front of the fans a lot more because I don't think I really did over the three years because of COVID.
51:17It was that much of a stutter coming back to football.
51:19Ross Halls:Yeah, because you obviously had that championship period and then you had obviously that whole year, January to December, that championship, League One, and then obviously it was like March, we went into lockdown and then you had that whole season obviously when we were under lockdown and then there was a few games where fans could come to watch. And then taken away again. So it was literally, I probably played in front of the fans for six months. And when you're watching games, you don't get to see the full picture of a game when you're there. I think a lot of people see that. You can watch a game on TV, you can tell a different picture to when you're actually at games.
51:56Ross Halls:Yeah, very much so. Which sort of players were you close to then during that period? Because obviously it was a mixture, some good characters, obviously a lot of players. Honestly, we all got on. I was close with Gwion, Nors Obviously I still see Chambo, Scusi at the time Scusi's gone on to do his coaching So he's a very busy man at the moment So I don't really get to see Scusi too much Willow, James Wilson's quite close to him I saw Willow on holiday It was quite good to see him again There was a number of players We were all quite good Dye Cornell We were actually quite close It just didn't come together for us.
52:39Ross Halls:Yes, it happens with a lot of clubs and it's happened at Isritown before in different teams in different eras. Obviously, though, we've always loved our Irishmen. We've always had so many Irish players in the past. So, yeah, in a way, it's like, I wish you did sign back in 2013. You know, if Blackburn didn't come corner, you could have been there. And Mick obviously built that team. And maybe you could have been that extra little spice that we needed to get to the Premier League. So we obviously got into that playoff set that one season. Yeah, yeah. Oh, well, I can't look back and thinking, oh, shut up.
53:09But you've got three good Irishmen there now at the win and they're doing pretty well. And hopefully Chia will be back fit in the summer. Sammy, you know, is top quality. And then you've got Dara locked down for another few years, which is great.
53:21Ross Halls:Yeah, very much. And obviously Jack Taylor as well. Oh, Jack, don't forget Jack. Jack has been so good for Orleans as well, by the way, when he plays. It's been brilliant. That's good. And obviously you go on to join Colchester, sort of a bit of a brand of merry men of Itchwich Town. Ex-players, obviously, Chamber of Scuse, yourself, obviously, Freddie Sears. And, yeah, obviously, during that time, you obviously get that very bad injury. Yeah. Yeah. Did you feel like you were correct? Again, just a contact injury. You know, defending a cross-back stick, cleared the ball, and the guys just couldn't run through the back of me.
53:57I couldn't get my leg off the ground in time. It's just one of those things. I think, as I said, all my injuries have been contact. so this is always something that's kind of not eaten away at me. People say injury prone. Injury prone is someone who pulls his hamstring, pulls his calves, pulls his quads every time he goes to play, not someone who gets contact injuries. That's just pure bad luck, I would say. So, no, I was very adamant that I was coming back. I think because of the injuries I had before, I was like, I'm not retiring on an injury. There's no way. and that is my case at the moment I'm proving and I want to prove it doesn't matter it doesn't matter to other people it matters to me what way I finish so yeah I'm hopefully going to enjoy another year of football and we'll go from there
54:45Ross Halls:You want to do it on your own terms and obviously you didn't really have any injuries prior to that maybe No, no, exactly it was just luck it was just getting back from the knee and then I've been obviously in Twitchwood I've been quite good I've been looking after myself so yeah I think the older you get the more you look after yourself so I enjoy that side of it to be honest. That's good and obviously now you're in late 30s my friend sorry to say that but what's future plans what's next for Alan Judge? So at the minute obviously I'm in a brain tree but I'm also coaching at a it's a grassroots academy it's called FC Balance it's kind of something I just come across last year met up with one or two ex-players there Kendra Lee he He runs it and it's very good.
55:27You know, it's for players, young players that just quite aren't at academy level just yet. But we're hoping our coaching, you know, being ex-players and whatnot might help them along. Not saying that they will, but, you know, a lot of players don't go through academies anymore to get to the highest level or to get to a good level. So, that's all. Yeah, just going down the coaching route at the moment, I thought it'd be silly not to. After all the years, I did say, no, I'm not going to be a coach. I've had enough of football. Here I am by myself coaching. And I did my UEFA B in the summer. So, yeah.
56:03Yeah, we'll see how it goes.
56:04Ross Halls:All right, Coach Judgy. And obviously now your son is, you know, in the academy. Is he a sort of similar player to you or is he a bit different? I'll probably say similar, but I think he's a bit more. He's hard, like, it's hard to say. He's only nine. He'll be ten soon. But he's very powerful for his age. Yeah, he's doing okay. and the great thing is that the coaches that are so good at Ipswich, I get to stand in the corner and I just get to watch him play. I literally do not have to say anything which is the best for me. As long as he's happy, I'm happy and long may that continue. That's good.
56:38And, yeah, obviously, Ipswich now is where you settled.
56:42Ross Halls:I'm sure you love Suffolk and, yeah, you say it's quite alive and your family all here and, you know, you're looking forward to the future. Yeah, yeah. And whatever that may entail, you know, finish playing football and then, you know, do the coaching as I'm doing up at FC Ballon because I think they've got a really good thing going on there. So, and then, you know, maybe down a year or two down the line, maybe look at academy football if that interests me or you never know, whatever can happen. Nice one, mate. Well, I'm looking forward to the future for you. Final sort of message to the fans who are listening and it's been great catching up, my friend.
57:17No, just enjoy it. Enjoy the times. What a time to be an Ipswich fan. I know the club boy that went down last year, but they're so well equipped to go back up the team that they have. Those players are well able. They have played in the championship. As I said, you'll have certain players coming back. I think Conor Chaplin in that league, he's one of my favourites to watch. Sammy is one of my favourites to watch. He's 28 goals in the championship the year before. I think Conor from Ryan St could have been around 26. That's a lot of goals. and then obviously Sam Morsey's just gone on to do incredible things and you know you kept Diary so yeah I really enjoy watching Ipswich when I get to watch them as well so long may that continue and just enjoy the times while they're there I'm sure they're going to be there for a good while now though with the investors that they have
58:08Ross Halls:Definitely and all the best for next season my friend you got any goals, any things you want to hit? Just play as many games as I can, you know, just keep enjoying and that's the main thing for me is just enjoy it while I can. Nice one. Well, any town fans listening, if you want to go to Braintree and support Judgy and obviously the Iron, then check that out. And, well, my friend, thanks for joining me. Enjoy the rest of the sunshine and all the best for next season. No problem. Thanks, Aros. Lovely. Take care, mate.
58:49Thank you.
59:20Thank you.
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From the publisher
Alan spoke about a range of memories, including his early life in Ireland, coming over to England to sign for Blackburn, playing under Paul Mariner at Plymouth and nearly signing for Town under Mick McCarthy.
The duo also discuss his spell at Brentford, injury set-backs, playing for his country and joining the Blues under Paul Lambert.
The Irishman chats about his time in Suffolk from his early impact, relegation, QPR transfer saga, playing during COVID, that ref incident, Paul Cook, his release and much more.
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