KOA special - Jonny Williams on his Town spells, injuries and future plans

27:10Ross Halls:Definitely. But what a strike. And of course, Christoph, good old bearer, went on school the late winner as well. That is incredible scenes. And so knowing your goal was part of a winning performance, not a defeat or a draw. Yeah, no, a special, special night at Portman Road, for sure. Obviously, we were chasing in the playoffs at the time. We fully believed we could get the playoffs and potentially achieve something special with that group of players. And it was a huge win against a really good side actually in Derby, had some really good players. So that kind of happened throughout that season.

27:47The big, well, I only joined in March, but in the time I was there, people popping up with big goals and all over the pitch, we had defenders contributing, and Berra and Chamber and Smudge were a force at the back. You had Krezzi at left back, Carlos Edwards as well, and Mingzi coming through at the time. So we were so solid, but we had some real hard workers in the team as well with Scusi and Luke Hyam and Anderson, just top, top lads, first and foremost, but proper players that would give you 110%. And that's the kind of players Mick only signed, I think. and we got so close that year, yeah.

28:27Ross Halls:Yeah, and to be fair, before that game against Brighton, who, you know, you got booze, didn't you? And you were sort of part of that good win at the Amex back then, a 2-0 win. Murphy, of course, you set up his goal. I remember actually during that celebration, I think you got your shorts, you know, sort of pulled down during the celebrations. Remember that? Yeah, I do, I do. Special day. Actually, the goal ruled out offside early on. that wasn't offside which was a shame because that would have been fun but we ended up winning 2-0 anyway and ended up on showboat or whatever it ended up all right and yeah I still don't know how Murph headed that in to be fair I think it come off his neck or something but in front of the town fans in the away end it's an unbelievable feeling but yeah no I remember yeah someone pulled my shorts down um and there was like articles about it and people saying that i'd done it deliberately and it was like no like you can see the video so i don't remember who pulled them down actually i think it was uh might have been woody or wordsworth or something yeah people always telling jokes and um or making jokes and that was the kind of team spirit we had it was just a lot of fun, a lot of fun to be around the lads and we just really enjoyed each other's company.

29:49And we had to anyway because every away journey was miles away from it. Yeah, we had no option.

29:56Ross Halls:Yeah, man. And you were saying a little bit earlier, you know, maybe a potential of a permanent deal. Was there any talks that summer maybe coming sort of back permanently? Did you feel like your Palace time were like probably up maybe in terms of first team football? or was there any potential chalk? I know you come back on loan again, which we'll get onto, but was there ever an opportunity there? I think there was potentially a couple of times, especially towards when I was older and the later loan spells, maybe the following year. And it just didn't happen for whatever reason. But I would have loved to have, if my time at Palace had come to an end and opportunities were running thin.

30:38Then obviously we went on to have Big Sam and Budis and Warnock. In terms of the type of player I am, I found my game time was limited. So, you know, I did have one eye on potentially I'm going to have to find a new home. First permanent team away from Palace. And there was talks a couple of times about making it permanent. And I would have been over the moon to have done that and signed for Ipswich. And stayed fit, of course, because it really did kill me at Ipswich. and that was one thing that yeah just got it about to be fair because i'd love to have played so many more games um especially you know the faith the cup put in me the manager put in me and i knew what i was capable of doing under that manager i just wish i could have done it more um but it's kind of out of my hands some of the injuries i had especially the second loan spell well.

31:33We played Watford in a remembrance game at home and I remember rupturing my adductor in a tackle. I went past someone down the wing and somehow ruptured my adductor and was out for like all in all about 10 months or something. You know, they were wondering whether to do surgery or not and I still, you know, you still feel the effects of it 10 years later. There's always been a slight weakness there. And you have to adapt. So footballs have scars and war wounds. And that was one of my big ones. It's just unfortunate timing. And even my fourth loan spell, it feels weird saying it was my fourth loan spell because it should have really been my third, but I kind of went back and then came back in the 2015 season, just before we played Norwich in the playoffs.

32:27And I came back again emergency loan and again broke down to a tackle and I just couldn't stay fit and it was really hard mentally having so much hopes and want to do well for Ipswich and it's just been taken away time after time. It's all part of football and all part of growing and making you stronger and learning your body and it just wasn't meant to be but I still have so many fond memories that I'm grateful for in an Ipswich shirt that I'll never forget. So yeah, can't speak about the club hardly enough and still keep tabs on Ipswich now and they're doing so well so it's great to see.

33:15Ross Halls:Definitely, especially because on your second loan spell you score on your debut of such, of course not your official debut but against Sheffield Wednesday so that's a perfect way to sort of return you know I think you signed in the September I'm sure that was nice though back then you know second loan spell coming back and you know starting off you know straight away with a goal. Yeah so there was a funny story behind that actually in terms of why I had no number or name on the back of my shirt when I scored so I remember we left on the Friday morning and Terry Connor TC come up to me on the bus and was like what number you have in what you know what number are you going to have because a lot of the numbers were taken up to about 30 or something and I was thinking oh it'd be nice to have 25 again because that was you know I had that before and then I thought I think 15 was free actually I didn't want 15 I don't know why I just didn't want 15.

34:16So I just thought it's my second loan spell I'm gonna choose number 50. Bit random. First loan spell was 25, second loan spell can be 50. Obviously, that didn't carry on for my third and fourth loan spells. But I took 50 and TC come up to me on the bus on the Friday and was like, oh, Johnny, what squad number are you? And I said number 50. And TC must have wrote down 15. So I'm coming on about 65 minutes in. at Hillsborough, Sheffield Wednesday away. I think we were 1-0 down at the time. And I go to put my shirt on and the fourth official was like, no, you can't wear that. You're registered as number 15.

35:04I was like, are you serious? Does it really matter anyway? Do you know what I mean? But the rules are rules. And I ended up having to wear like an XXL blood shirt. that BY, the physio, gave me that I think is still there now. BY's top guy. Unfortunately, he spent a lot of time with him. But he's a top, top guy, top physio. And he gave me his blood shirt that was like an XXL blank shirt with no number, no name. And I had to tuck it in. It looked a bit like Mateta at the time. But the shirt was just a bit baggier. Yeah, I think I scored with one of my first touches and obviously celebrated and jokingly that pointed to the no name, no number on the back and spot my dad in the crowd as well in the pictures afterwards.

35:52Dad would travel home and away everywhere. So it was a special moment to score my second debut for sure. But yeah, never, never happened. Never happened again. I don't think.

36:04Ross Halls:Well, this is the picture of you in that. But obviously your shorts, I think, you know, you're allowed to wear the shorts but the shirt itself um they're like well we haven't got any other shorts so you know so but yeah and there's obviously the celebrations um but yeah that was obviously really yeah yeah yeah there he is he just retired hasn't he just uh recently gone but um but yeah you know great start um but as you say about the injuries I've got actually a question which we'll get onto now and this is from Bainsey one of our listeners he said how did you keep mentally strong during those injury setbacks because you know they just kept coming didn't they unfortunately yeah and to be honest more so at Ipswich than anywhere else maybe Wales at times as well and obviously Palace it was that period from about 17 the first time I broke my leg to about 24 and to be honest ever since then well 25 i guess i had a few ever since but in terms of like constant you you play three months and break down three months break down two months two weeks it was um it was relentless at times in them first few years in the first teams um especially at ipswich just because i love my time at the club so much and experienced such a fun first loan spell and felt so good so good as a player, as a person, everything felt right.

37:39To kind of have that cut short and taken away by injuries was really hard to be fair because I just love playing Vibswich and I wanted to do so well for the club. So it's really difficult, yeah. I don't know, you just got to You've just got to work hard in the gym, remain positive, try and focus not on the end goal at times. It was almost like, what's next? Is gym session, what can I do to get better? Okay, that's done. I'll go and have lunch. Now what's next? Okay, what are we doing tomorrow? If you look too far ahead, I think mentally it can be really demoralizing and draining because the road can be long at times, so you have to focus on whatever's next, the next day.

38:25what am I going to do to get better? And I'm a day closer to being fit again. So yeah, it was really tough. Obviously missing out on Ipswich, obviously missing out on Wales games. Yeah, I had a really, really tough period around first and second loan spells. Well, first was fine. Second loan spell, really, really tough. And that was mainly down to that moment against Watford with a groin injury. really bad injury to be fair I don't think I realized at the time because it's probably only 22 23 but yeah it's all different specialists and surgeons to see if I needed surgery but didn't went with the no surgery route and then it just took a lot of time and have to strengthen other areas but it wasn't just my groin I had other things would compensate and then something else would tweak and and so forth so yeah no it's really really challenging time in my career um and just such a shame because i always think what could have been at ipswich had i not had them injuries i really feel like i could have kicked on in my career and and maybe helped it switch even further but on a personal note it was a perfect place for me to play my football and and experience things I never thought I was capable of doing as a footballer.

39:53Just due to the environment, I was lucky enough to find myself in and have a fan base around me that supported me and wanted me to do so well. And I'm very grateful for that because, you know, they had to be patient with me at times because I couldn't stay fit. And they were always so supportive and willing for me to be back. So I'm very thankful for that.

40:15Ross Halls:definitely mate and we've got a few more questions from fans here this is from James he said he's actually based in New York so the big apple James did he did you ever feel like a proper issues player and feel settled in the area with those sort of three loans four loan spells did you ever feel like you were I know you contracted it Palace but you are a loan player at town did you ever feel like that and did you sort of were you traveling from London or did you get an apartment in Suffolk? No, no, like I said, it felt like a home from home. I absolutely loved it there, stayed in different places, stayed on the harbour, the first loan spouse, I stayed in the Salt House Harbour Hotel for like three months.

40:59So yeah, that was a bit crazy living in a hotel room for that long um it worked the staff were really friendly and made me feel at home there so yeah i knew that was a short loan spell um so that was fine but other times i had apartments and stuff in ipswich and just a really friendly place people are really nice there's nice nice town it's just a nice place to live um and on top of that you've got a phenomenal football club that's run really well with really nice people in and you get to go and train and play with friends every day. So yeah, there was nothing wrong with the place or the environment.

41:40I absolutely loved it there and yeah, felt right at home being in Ipswich and I look forward to going back for sure. I haven't had an opportunity yet due to schedules and stuff, but I really look forward to, I keep saying I need to go back to Portland Road and watch a game or something and experience that again and relive some memories and support the team. Definitely.

42:01Ross Halls:Well, if it works out your schedule, Palace Town in the Premier League, that would be a nice game to go and watch, but we shall see. This is a message from Darren. He said, not exactly an original question, but what was his favourite game for town? I'm just wondering how well he remembers his sparkling assists for Darrell Murphy at Brighton, which always felt to me like the moment he first announced himself as a town player. We sort of covered that already, but any other sort of games that sort of stick in your head in terms of your favourite games in the town shirt? Yeah, obviously that's up there.

42:34Playing against Brighton, obviously getting booed from minute one. I'm going to win 2-0 against a really good side again. They're a good team. And the limbs in the away end are unreal. So that was special from a Palace point of view. obviously playing against Brighton and everything that comes with it. Obviously Derby at home, scoring that goal was special. Tuesday night under the lights at Portman Road against a really good side going for playoffs as well. That was really special but it was probably one that sticks to me, was probably my home debut. I think it was Wigan at home. and there was my debut against Yeovil, I think away.

43:25I think Kiefer Moore actually hit a post or something. I think we won 1-0 maybe or 2-1. I can't remember. But we played Yeovil away. I just remember coming on and playing with no fear and just loving playing again and feeling special. I think from the get-go, I was just made to feel special and valued and important. as did everyone. And that was what was great about being in the Mick McCarthy team. But that one, my first, my home debut, I remember coming off the pitch and feeling that love from the fans and it just felt right. And I felt, just felt valued again. I felt good. I felt I could offer the team something they'd been missing potentially.

44:12really. And just surrounded by so many good people in the same colour shirt as you, it's a special feeling. And I always had that Ipswich and that's why I loved playing for them because of the people you played with and the people you're surrounded with day to day in terms of staff, groundsmen, kitmen, kitchen staff, whoever it is, there was just a huge respect for everyone involved. There was no egos whatsoever. Just a really good bond and team that was a privilege to be a part of.

44:51Ross Halls:Well, funny enough, that actually covers this next question, but I'm going to say it anyway. This is from Bloomers, and he said, me and his best mate, your best mate Harry, went to the uni together. I've professed my drunken love for him on calls and voice notes many times, including the other month on a stag do. so yeah apparently you've got maybe a phone call from Harry and Bloomer's like oh Johnny I love you I love you and stuff but yeah I just sort of covered it there and he said did he feel the affection the fan base had for him and which you know is such a it's a great thing because you know it happens actually I think there was actually a period where we had loads of lone players and we just kept falling in love with them and deep down we're like we're not going to resign I think we had Ryan Fraser, Tom Lawrence in like back-to-back seasons.

45:34Ross Halls:Selina as well. Selina as well yeah it was fantastic um but yeah unfortunately you i think a lot of people just think oh just those injuries if it wasn't for those injuries you probably hopefully would have signed permanently or actually maybe you've been too good for us and you could have gone to a different club um but yeah i think you had four loan spells obviously the first loan spell was fantastic and then just the rest was just like oh those injuries if that weren't for those injuries we hope you know talking about different things in this chat but um yeah i think town fans when i sort of put out the message saying, yeah, we're going to be speaking to Johnny.

46:07Ross Halls:They're like, oh, I love Johnny. Just those injuries, unfortunately. Yeah, no, exactly. I echo that completely. Yeah, very, very grateful for the support from Yeovil away till my last game in a town shirt. Through all the highs and lows, it was probably my most challenging time of my career and potentially some of my most enjoyable times in terms of the way I felt on the pitch and what I felt I could be capable of being as a footballer. And I still remind myself to the day now when I flashback, I'm still that same player sometimes when things aren't going well. That first loan spell, especially what I was able to do on the pitch and it was amazing and it's really powerful.

46:54But yeah, I'm just very grateful for the fans sticking through me from the first line spell before all the setbacks to the last because they really were extremely supportive and that meant a lot to me and even when things were going well and I was doing well it meant the world to me so I'm very thankful and grateful for that and I look forward to seeing you know hopefully in the near future the town you know fan base in person again and I'm going to watch a game and yeah, we live in some special memories.

47:31Ross Halls:Definitely. I'm sure they're open arms and it'll look great to see you back up Portland Road. And you, of course, you go back to Palace and you go out on loan again to sort of Forest and MK Dons and then you come back to town for your fourth loan spell. I think you only make a few appearances, but yeah, sort of four different separate spells and I think, you know, you just get that injury again and you must be thinking, can I just not catch a break? And Mick will probably just think, oh Johnny that's just such a shame. Yeah I think I think at that point you almost felt you start feeling responsible and you you start thinking oh this is actually my fault and you start putting that weight on yourself and you're thinking I'm letting so many people down that have put faith in me in terms of well firstly the manager TC players around me they want to rely on you and and you can't be fit and you start taking that responsibility that you know you can't you can't predict a shoulder dislocation um that puts me out for for nearly well three and a half four months and then i have subsequent hamstring injuries off the back of that um which can be normal after shoulder surgery in terms of the way you carry your the way the body moves and the way you carry your shoulder or you're not running as freely as you once were because you're protecting it.

48:53And I look into all them things now because I'm a bit older and I've looked back at some things that have happened. But at the time I thought I was running fine and obviously wasn't. And then I have a hamstring that puts me out further when I get back and it's just so frustrating. But yeah, you do, you end up feeling responsible and you just, I hate letting people down regardless whether that's not even in football, just just as a person, I want to, you know, you want to please people, you want to do right, you want to do the right thing, you want to treat people how you want to be treated. So yeah, the thought of letting people down was really hard.

49:27And I thought, oh, do you know what, like, it just felt so bad. It was a different feeling to the first injury. It was like, this is my fourth loan spell and it's happened again. I couldn't quite believe it. And it does really test your belief and your faith at the time. But again, you don't know what's around the corner and it just wasn't meant to be in the end. So yeah, real sad in a way. But I try and flip that and think I got to experience playing for Ipswich and some of the good times were really, really good times. So I try and focus on them more. but yeah no it was that feeling of I think especially on the fourth loan spell it was like letting so many people down the fans and players stuff it's not a nice feeling so yeah real shame real shame to be fair definitely

50:24Ross Halls:but you made your mark either way in terms of you know just appearances that you did make unfortunately there is that like injury little thing there like oh just those injuries but it is what it is but we're having this conversation now because you know you made your mark um and you know this has been a fantastic conversation john i want to take too much of your time up a few more little things to sort of mention though um you of course go on loan to sunderland and you're i don't know if you were much part of that documentary of course that sort of blew up on netflix can you sort of remember that that getting filmed and stuff that unfortunately end of relegation so not great memories but can you remember that getting filmed of course now so many clubs do documentaries yeah i think um yeah so obviously when i signed um it was uh it was made clear that they were documenting the the season obviously with a different mindset and approach at that time it was like the aim was completely different as to what actually became reality um i think the whole documentary was probably going to be a fairy tale story, returns to the Premier League.

51:31So instead it became an unbelievable story for neutrals to watch but just nothing to do with the players involved and the staff and the fans. That was a really tough, really, really tough season, challenging season. Again, with myself and injuries, again, I've dislocated my shoulder, well, re-discicated the shoulder, I dislocated at Ipswich. So again, just again, that feeling of letting people down, it was really, really tough. And obviously that was documented worldwide on Netflix at the time. So nowhere to hide really, but I think you just want to remain true to yourself and try and remain the same person as I always have been.

52:19And just go again, just keep going until the day comes when you do finish football you feel like you've given your all in every team you've played for and in every circumstance. So yeah, no, it was a really, really difficult season, especially it being videoed and documented and the high hopes I had when I went there. And again, got to experience some really good performances towards the start of my Lonesville and I was excited to see what could unfold and a huge club with a real passionate great fan base and again excited for that and again taken away with injury and having to watch the pain that followed in terms of results and what was happening unfolding the season was really hard and I couldn't really affect that because I was sat on the sides and that was really challenging as well from a different point of view.

53:15Definitely.

53:16Ross Halls:And I can imagine, you know, that was a hard day when you got told you're going to be leaving Palace. I know you've been out on loan multiple times in that sort of like five, six years, but it must have been a still hard day, you know, leaving, you know, the club, you know, your sort of boyhood club, but, you know, where you've come through the ranks and done all what you've done. That must have been a hard day. Yeah, it was hard. Again, one that I knew was going to come just due to game time and opportunities were limited in the end and I knew my time was going to be up soon. But yeah, no, I had unbelievable times playing for Palace.

53:55I never thought I'd make the first team to go and experience what I did manage to experience with the club was phenomenal. But yeah, no, it's a tough day to leave the club. I'd always been with, like you say, the loans probably to soften the blood a bit because I'd experienced playing for other teams and stuff. So, yeah, there's always timing and it did feel like the right time in the end to move on and find a different club to play for. So, that was that.

54:26Ross Halls:Yeah, and you go on and play under Lee Bowyer at Charlton. I know at the time the club was a bit of a mess at the valley, but you still win promotion from League One that that must be another thing to have on your CV winning promotion and stuff like that and Charlton was maybe an opportunity for you to play some more games as well I know there was maybe a few injuries as well there but you were able to kick on Yeah I think I remember the full time Whistle went obviously in the playoff final and that was against Sunderland who I had a lot of friends with the year before and I remember celebrating and then went round and shook everyone's hand and you know I wished them well for this summer and the next year at Sunderland that I knew.

55:09But in terms of what people don't see is the years that will come before that moment where the full-time whistle goes at Charlton, we got promoted to the championship and have just left Palace and all the injuries that had come before and the disappointments and the hopes that had come with Ipswich, etc. Obviously, put the Euros in there, which was a huge high. but along that so many lows like day to day in terms of injuries so when that whistle did go at Wembley when we beat Sunderland in the last minutes of the game it was just um I can't really explain the feeling it was just a lot it was a lot a lot of emotion um because I'd experienced so many lows so many setbacks so many injuries it was so good to experience that high again and go I'm going to be playing the championship again next year I want to be playing to as close to the Premier League as I can at the same time it was bad because I had so many friends on the opposing team at Sunderland and people thinking why can't you celebrate like that against a team that you played for and it was nothing to do with that it was just from a at the time it was a personal feeling of I'd had so much bad luck and bad experiences that I just had to enjoy that moment and I wish Sunderland could have got promoted and we'd won the playoffs that would have been the dream but sometimes football you just got to play what's in front of you so yeah

56:40Ross Halls:Definitely and you just dropped Wales in it I thought we've got to cover Wales a little bit because that must have a dream come true is it your dad who's sort of born in Wales and that's how you sort of qualify Yeah dad's born in North Wales yeah Nice one so I'm sure yeah sort of making a debut was fantastic, but to be part of the squads at Euros and the World Cup, I'm sure those experiences will live with you forever as well, because that's record-breaking times for Wales during that period. Yeah, just very grateful, really. Very grateful to be a part of them squads. Grateful to be selected by all the different managers that I've had.

57:21Fantastic managers. with, well firstly Gary Speed who firstly called me into the squad at the time as a 17 year old making sure I didn't want to play for England and once I'd commit to Wales that was it. You know putting me into the squad so young I got to look at the likes of Bellamy and Rob Burnshaw and the way they trained and played and with that intensity it kind of showed me the levels and the bars and obviously you had young Gareth Bales coming through at the time. So I got to see that at a young age and to be a part of that kind of coming underneath the golden era with Ramsey, Bale, Gunters, Hennessy, Joe Allens, all them young boys that were coming through as a group.

58:11I kind of come underneath that with Ben Davis and Danny Ward and Emma Hughes. Tom Lawrence was a year younger than us. So we were the ones coming underneath that. So I was incredibly lucky to be a part of that at the time and football was about timing and being part of a real special Wales team really and playing my part in any way I could whether that was starting, coming off the bench to make an impact and doing what I do and trying to draw teams up the pitch and dribble the ball and carry the ball winning a couple of free kicks here and there. Or being a sub or in the stands and being supportive and not being a bad egg and just wanting the team to win and supporting the players that are playing and being ready for whenever you're called upon because that Wales team, especially Euro 2016, that's what it was.

59:09It was just a starting XI and a group of 12 players that would support the starting XI and be ready whenever they're called upon. And that's why it was so special because there was such a togetherness and a team willing each other to win. Every time we stepped out on the pitch, we managed to achieve the unthinkable with a couple of world-class players. So, no, I was very grateful to play alongside them at times, but also just watch and train and train with. So, yeah, some incredible memories to go to three major tournaments was incredibly special. And like you say, my career's not over yet. I want to play for however long I can play for.

59:51But to go to circuit, to go to three major tournaments, if someone had said that when I was a kid, I'd have laughed, to be honest. Especially when we hadn't qualified for so long. When I first come into the Wales fold, it seemed a way out of possibilities. So yeah, incredible, incredible moments. that will live forever for sure. Definitely.

1:00:16Ross Halls:And you recently, of course, made your 400th professional appearance at Gillingham, season just gone. Not bad going. And hopefully you're going to add to that in coming years to come. What's the future then for yourself? Of course, getting a new club. But I've seen your sort of studying with a PFA with their business school. Sort of insight on that. That's a great sort of new thing that they've brought in in the last few years. and getting ready for the next chapter while you're still playing football? Yeah, so we had the PFA come in to clubs all over England, I think, in the leagues to talk about different things.

1:00:56And that talk specifically was on, there's a bit on the PFA business school and studying and obviously PFA camps and we had the drink and drug gambling meetings as well about what we should and shouldn't do. I remember hearing about the psychology course at the time and the guy, Phil, who presented it from the PFA, I remember saying, I just spoke to him after the meeting and kind of inquired about the psychology course and I thought whilst I'm still playing, I think it could be really useful, but also in terms of I want to stay in football regardless because I think I can help in different ways when I do end up calling it a day.

1:01:40I think the psychological aspects of football is huge and I think it's only going to get bigger and bigger. And I've experienced that firsthand as a player.

1:01:51In terms of the psychological side, in terms of what football can throw at you, and in terms of managers, performances, social media, media, it's only going to get worse and worse. So, yeah, I think the brain's really powerful and I thought I'm going to dive in, I'm just going to dive in and learn again. And it's been really challenging, but really rewarding as well. I think it finishes this October. It's only a year's course with a PFA. I've absolutely loved it, learned a lot, not only as potentially as a player, but as potentially whatever I do afterwards, being a staff member in some capacity in football, but also as a person just growing as a person and how you want to be the best version of yourself but it's been incredibly interesting to learn from some really top lecturers some top managers, psychologists and on top of that it's been really flexible as well so a lot of it can be done online so that's a huge thing for parent footballers that are able to study but also play football and that's been a for me it's been I've been really lucky I've been able to do both because sometimes when you're not playing or things aren't going like you want on the pitch you can switch and turn into study mode and learn so I've really enjoyed that challenge and it has been challenging because I probably haven't studied much since school so yeah I've taken myself out of my comfort zone but something I've really enjoyed doing and yeah I look forward to finishing it and seeing what's next

1:03:30Ross Halls:that's great to hear my friend and um i've i've enjoyed this conversation hopefully all the listeners have enjoyed as well uh quick little quick fire questions just to wrap up if that's okay with you um some of them are just cliche questions but they're just they're just you've got to do it um best manager you've played under and why you've played under a few you know some sort of iconic managers who sort of sticks out for you oh um yeah it's a really hard one um I've played a lot. I think there's ones for different reasons. You know, I've got Dougie Freeman who's given me my debut in the football world that I'll never forget.

1:04:15I've got Chris Coleman as well who's given me a lot in a Wales jersey and a lot of experiences that I'd never dreamt of. In terms of, I'd say in terms of man management, it probably would have to say, and training and the way we, I just enjoyed football, it would have to be that period. My first loan spell at Ipswich and what he gave me in terms of what I ended up doing that I never thought I could do. And that alone, I've never had that feeling. And I think had I could have had that more, who knows how my career would have ended up and stuff. So yeah, I think for that alone, take away, that's not even including just him as a person, the way he treated everyone with huge respect in the environment and culture created at Ipswich where there was just no egos and it was just such a friendly happy place to be and on top of that training was really fun like we used to play young v old on Fridays and the worst trainer would have to wear like a big yellow banana costume the following week on Friday and everyone like buzzed for Fridays because it was young v old and it meant a lot there was a few feisty tackles flying in and the losing team would obviously be at risk of wearing the one player would end up getting voted worst trainer and and you'd have to sign it and wear it for the like half an hour on a friday um i don't even know how you trained in it to be honest but even that like that was just really fun um head tennis he used to do as well as part of warm-ups and stuff and forfeits and stuff it was just really cool really fun very relaxed but hard working as well um so yeah no there's so many reasons why i love playing for big mick hence why I kind of every time he was interested I went back so I was just I just felt bad at times where I felt like I almost let him down in the faith he showed me he'd probably tell me I was being stupid and it was out of my control so yeah no I'd say all them things put together I really loved playing for him and yeah honestly he made me feel on top of the world and I'm grateful for that.

1:06:45That's good.

1:06:45Ross Halls:I assume you didn't have to wear then the banana costume because you weren't worse trainer. I did, I think. Yeah, I think there was one time I was getting it no matter what because I'd just come back. It was my first training back from going back to Palace and I'd just come back on loan or just come back from injury. It was like Johnny's getting it no matter what and I was like, we can't lose because I'm going to end up getting a bib. But yeah, no, I got a couple of times. There's a couple of times, a couple of head losses in there from other people when they get it. That was always quite good to watch.

1:07:24Not so good on a Friday before a game if someone's lost their head, but no, it was really good fun. Good times, missing times for sure.

1:07:33Ross Halls:Definitely, mate. And you, of course, played with some good players who's sort of up there. You know, it's probably Gareth, isn't it? It's a stupid question, really. But the best player you've played with? I just realised that was meant to be quick fire and that was definitely long fire that's fine some good insight on there but yeah maybe for the future ones you call it long fire yeah Gareth Bale would keep that quick yeah for sure unbelievable Wilf though is probably up there as well I can assume yeah no Wilf's different for sure Wilf's different in terms of raw 1v1 ability in terms of tricks going past people and beating them again.

1:08:13But Gareth, if Wilf's there, like Gareth's up there somewhere. Yeah, he really is world-class. You only have to see, I saw Casemiro do an interview and he said Bale was the most complete player he's ever seen. And he's obviously played with Ronaldo enough times. And I'm thinking, okay, so it's nice to see him finally getting the, I think the credit he deserves. I don't think he gets enough credit. it. I think some people do. I think some people realise it. But for what he's achieved and seeing it firsthand, some of the things he did were ridiculous. It was like he was playing a different sport at times.

1:08:53He was that good. And, you know, he was playing with Premier League players at times and he was still miles, miles above. So yeah, incredibly blessed to see that first hand and obviously play alongside him for sure, unbelievable player

1:09:10Ross Halls:Definitely, best player you played against of course, you played in the Premier League you played on international stage which players stand out for you?

1:09:24I'd have to say on the day in that moment on the day where I was like wow, I and Robin when we played Holland um abraham of each replace sweden where you're like these guys are on a completely different planet um and obviously played against ronaldo but it was only for 25 minutes and there were two new ups that are kind of defending a lot um but on the day what i saw it probably have to be out of them too and um david silver i love david silver um with the eyes in the back of his head incredible fail

1:10:03Ross Halls:Did you keep shirts where you a player like that you sort of took shirts or anything like that was it on open times I actually forgot Modric that's terrible and he'd probably be the best out of all of them and I only say that because you're reminding because I managed to get his shirt and it's framed so yeah Luka Modric hands down easily the best player I've played against managed to get his shirt after the game he came off injured and managed to get his shirt after we played Croatia in a qualifier. So, yeah, that's a special one. Definitely, mate. And best stadium? You've, of course, played in many stadiums in England and abroad and stuff like that.

1:10:40Ross Halls:But, you know, any of that you sort of like, oh, I love playing now. I'm sure the Welsh, you know, international stadium is probably up there. Well, Cardiff Stadium, but yeah. Yeah. In terms of the biggest stadium and the atmospheres on the day, I'd have to say Wembley, just in terms of what was at stake in the playoff finals. both times sellouts incredible spectacle so yeah have to be Wembley really just in terms of a huge stadium and from a club point of view probably the Etihad was cool yeah playing at Man City was really cool to play Definitely mate and then finally sort of best moment in your career what sort of stands out for you as we end this conversation my friend so far hopefully best moment in my career I've probably got three three that I can think of my first goal for Wales against Bulgaria under Ryan Giggs I think he was under a bit of pressure at the time and he actually put me up front as a false nine for about 10 minutes and I scored the winner, which is crazy because I've never played striker in my life.

1:12:00So that's a bit of a funny story. But scoring first international goal is incredibly special. Probably my Palace debut.

1:12:13You know, debut senior football. Can't really beat it never forget it and it's where the journey starts really so that and obviously getting promoted with Palace to the Premier League was special as well so yeah there's a few there's a few Euros 2016 as a whole was probably the best experience I've had as a whole six weeks in terms of football because all the games are great but in terms of experience that was unbelievable unbelievable to be a part of so yeah one of them sorry i couldn't choose one but um

1:12:54Ross Halls:that's all good yeah it's hard to choose okay well um more conversation my friend thank you so much for joining me i'm sure the listeners as i said and the viewers um watching as well have enjoyed this conversation sort of final sort of thoughts i'll let you sort of end it as you as you would like to? I'm just grateful. I think that's the word I'd say. Grateful I got to experience the experience playing for Ibswich. Grateful for the support. Grateful for the opportunities. Had some fantastic times playing for the club. Obviously a lot of tough times as well. experienced some real lows along the way and just couldn't manage to get fit at times and obviously felt like I was letting a lot of people down so that was incredibly tough but I'm very grateful for the support that you guys showed in me all through four loan spells you know it's a bit crazy to think I went on loan four times when I tell people I went to Ibswitch on loan four times they're like that's crazy I'm like yeah that's crazy but I love playing for Ipswich so it's not that crazy so I love being there, love being part of it.

1:14:09I'm just sad it couldn't have been more because I knew what it could be and I'd experienced the really good times playing for Ipswich and I'll always forget, always remember them over the bad times and thinking what off because you're only wasting time. So yeah, incredibly grateful for your support Ipswich Town and hopefully see you in the near future and come to some games sometime and yeah thank you top man Johnny

1:14:37Ross Halls:Johnny Esther thanks for joining me thank you very much Rosco appreciate it Thank you.

1:15:13Thank you.

1:15:51Thank you.

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