Posted by Richard Lee - 11/04/2008
Q. Was there a time during your arm injury that you thought you might not play again?
A. In truth that was never a consideration. I had managed to break the humerus bone, which is the bone in your upper arm, a very unusual injury.
I was told post-injury that it was career threatening but I knew it wouldn’t empower me to think like that. Like most things I think your mindset is very important and by retaining a positive attitude I believe it helped me through that time.
It was a tough time though, as I remember the doctor telling me I’d never be able to straighten my arm and had that been the case then my career would most certainly have been over.
I remember spending countless hours leaning up against a wall trying to straighten it and the result was that although I’ve been left with a large scar on my right arm I can near enough straighten it and I’ve had no problems since (touch wood!)
Posted by Richard Lee - 11/04/2008
Q. What's the best moment in your career so far?
A. There’s been many highlights; the day I was called into the office as a scholar to be told I would be offered a professional contract was incredible, making my debut on a wet and windy Tuesday night against Preston will never be forgotten, fulfilling my ambition of playing in the Premier League was a massive high but I’d have to say stepping out at Villa Park and seeing the sea of yellow in the Holte End was one of the biggest buzzes anyone could ever experience.
I feel very lucky to have experienced something like that and having played in the semi final of the FA Cup it just makes you hungrier to experience the highs that are available as a professional footballer.
Posted by Richard Lee - 11/04/2008
Q. Is it time for a change of scenery?
A. Definitely not! It’s well known that I’ve been with Watford many years and I have a strong affinity with the club, so providing I’m in with a fair chance of playing then I’m more than happy here. I believe I can fulfil a lot of my ambitions here and I think, like many others, that I’m at a club that is definitely heading in the right direction.
Posted by Richard Lee - 09/04/2008
Q. Do you think you're not always first choice because you've been at the club so long and it seems easier to leave you out than someone who's been signed?
A. Not really. I can’t remember a time when I thought I was head and shoulders above someone and I wasn’t playing.
In fact I’ve been very lucky in that I’ve been alongside some fantastic keepers in the past few years; Ben Foster, Alec Chamberlain and Mart Poom. I’ve made a point of trying to take parts of everyone’s games and use them myself. For instance my style of dead-ball kicking has derived from Ben’s (although considerably shorter!) as well as his mental approach to the game. I’ve altered my ‘set’ stance since training with Poomy and his dedication in the gym has rubbed off on me. And as for Alec, he was as solid a keeper as you could ever watch and he’s a great example as to what a model professional should be. That’s helped to stand me in good stead learning from him.
Going back to the question, I’m not one to throw my dummies out of the pram if I’m not playing as much as I want to play every game, I realise the manager has a decision to make and I’ll make a point to let him know that I’m still there and on form but whoever the manager chooses to play I’ll respect the decision.
And if that person isn’t me then my job changes to being the best back-up I can be in order to help the team…but I didn’t become a professional footballer to sit on a bench!
Posted by Richard Lee - 09/04/2008
Q. Is it hard to deal with when a new goalkeeper is signed?
A. It’s happened to me on a couple of occasions and I’ve always decided to view it as a challenge. There’s no point taking it personally as this won’t inspire you to improve your game, so instead I’ve always viewed it as a positive challenge and if anything when this has happened it’s kicked my game up a notch as you are forced out of your comfort zone with the new competition you face.
Obviously it is a great feeling being a secure number one somewhere and that will always be the goal but I realise there will be tough times in your career and it’s how you get through these tough times that helps define your character.
Although this may sound odd, I consider myself lucky to have had some tough times which have helped me to grow as a keeper and as a person.
Posted by Richard Lee - 09/04/2008
Q. Do you find your lack of height a big problem?
A. This is a frequently-asked question and the answer I have always given is ‘No’.
I’m honest enough to say that in an ideal world you would have a keeper who is 7ft tall with the reflexes of a cat and agility to match, but what I believe tends to happen is that the bigger keepers are the less mobile they are. I’m 6ft tall, which is by no means small, and I believe myself to be sharp around my goal and I come for a lot of crosses so I’m more than confident that with my supposed lack of height I can achieve all the goals I have set myself.
I always point to a number of keepers I admire when asked this, Iker Cassillas being one of them, who himself is 6ft tall and arguably the best keeper in the world – enough said!