Premiership Footballer Danny Ward

Meet Danny Ward. A 20 year old Premier League footballer who plays for Bolton Wanderers, currently on loan at Huddersfield Town. A left winger by trade who enjoys getting chalk on his boots, an old fashioned wide player.

Upon meeting Ward, we don’t see eye to eye. This is because he is deceptively taller in real life than what television pictures show. He`s not a player who could crawl through an opposition defender`s legs. No, Ward is more likely to hit the ball through a player`s legs and run round the other side.

 It`s Friday morning and Ward has a training session with his new Huddersfield Town team mates’  down at the Galpharm Stadium in preparation for their televised Sky Sports fixture with Notts County.

As if on interview for a new job, Ward is clean shaven, wearing a polo t-shirt buttoned to the top and black trousers.

"Perfect face for radio there Danny boy,” shouts Peter Clarke. “Guten morgen Danny,” says Danny Cadamarteri. A return to Huddersfield after two years away seems to have rekindled Cadamarteri`s love for football after a shady past which included a spell in prison. His infectious personality is clearly rubbing off on some.

The pair walk past Ward and down the tunnel. Spirits are clearly high at Huddersfield at the moment with the team unbeaten in 18 league games.

The form of Lee Clark`s team is one of the main reasons he joined the West Yorkshire side.

Ward said: “Owen Coyle wanted me to join a team doing well in the league that plays the same style of football as Bolton. After speaking to Lee Clark I couldn’t wait to come down and join up with the lads. The manager has helped me settle in and now I`m looking forward to the next few games. ”

Ward it seems has unfinished business with League One.  He scored 9 goals when on loan at Swindon Town last season including a play-off semi-final goal against Charlton Athletic, only to be beaten 1-0 at Wembley by Millwall in the final.  

“Getting to Wembley last year was a great experience to play in front of so many fans but heartbreaking at the same time. We had a couple of chances in that game that didn’t go our way. It was really unfortunate after having such a good season but now it`s all about looking ahead to the end of the season and hopefully winning promotion with Huddersfield, ” said Ward.

Before that final his manager at Bolton, Owen Coyle told him to `light up’ Wembley. Certainly big pressure put on his shoulders but it was a compliment to Ward`s ability. It`s an ability that has been present since day one. Coyle, after all, did include him in the pre-season tour to Scotland, Canada and USA.

Ward said : “ I started off at a local team called Farsley in Leeds, I was only there for about six months when I got signed by Bradford City under 8`s after we played against them. I was at Bradford for three years before moving to Leeds under 11’s, they thought I played well too. I was then at Leeds for five years until the age of 15 but then I got spotted playing by Bolton and I have been their ever since. ”

Ward confesses to idolising David Beckham from a young age. The gap between world star and loan rookie couldn’t be further apart. However Beckham also began his career on loan at Preston North End.

 “I would pretend to be Beckham when playing in the street or on the field and copy his style of free-kick. The free-kick against Greece especially sticks out for me, it was a special moment, ” said Ward.

After a quick glance at his wrist watch, a firm handshake and a nod of appreciation, Ward collects his boot bag and heads for the dressing room.

Perhaps one day younger generations will pretend to be Danny Ward when playing football in the street.

Ward said : “In 5 years time the overall aim is to be playing regularly with Bolton in the Premiership and with England at European Championships and World Cups. ”

Ward certainly has time on his side.

Eric Cantona

The glaring stare that often frightened opponents in the Old Trafford tunnel is still as intimidating as ever.

Sat upright in the chair like an old school headmaster with his broad shoulders, chest out, flat cap, Cantona  may have retired from football 14 years ago but his eccentric personality is still very much shining bright.

It was almost as if he was about to jump to his feet, turn his collar up and don the famous number seven shirt once again.  

Cantona, since retiring at the age of 30 has gone into new avenues. The New York Cosmos is his latest project with Cantona being appointed Director of Soccer. Quite a far cry from a Premiership appearance or teaming up with film director Ken Loach for the film `Looking for Eric’. And Perhaps that is exactly was he has done.

Why New York Cosmos: “It`s a very special club with a great history, a big project. I want to win the Championship with 5-6 academy players in the team.

“I signed the contract in May 2012; I have put people in the right places and have started to work hard, 100% for the past 8 months. I have a very strong urge, it`s a special city. I`m not tired, I can walk all day.”

This desire to win trophies was embedded into him when in five years at Old Trafford; he won four Premiership titles, scoring 66 goals in 144 appearances and being voted the PFA Player of the Year in the 1993-1994 season. A true legend amongst the United fans.  

From what he said it is certain that at five years under the stewardship of Alex Ferguson at Manchester United, playing alongside Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes, Nicky Butt and the Neville brothers, all products of the United academy, has had more of an impact on his philosophies than some might have imagined.

“Ferguson has humility, humanity, passion, a psychologist, I admire him. Big clubs have problems with different generations but he has adapted to all the generations, the different personalities and helped them develop their own, find freedom, the energy to become competitive. A great tactician, a kind of genius.”

Despite Cantona adopting a forward thinking mentality, it does seem as if there is still one topic that angers him and still gets under his skin. The French national team.

In 1997 he was fined for punching Bruno Martini in the face. A year later he was banned from playing for France for a year when he called the national coach `a bag of shit’. 6 players at Montpellier wanted him sacked after he threw boots at a team mate’s face. 1991 saw Cantona throw the ball in the ref`s face and called all members on the committee panel `idiots’.

“I don’t really care about France. I watch teams who I want to watch, who will entertain me. I like to watch Barcelona and United, players who enjoy the game.

This hurting and anger stems from the above incidents and failing to qualify for the 1994 World Cup after defeats to Israel and Bulgaria when they only needed a draw to qualify.

New York Cosmos have certainly got the right man in terms of passion and belief. Temperament may be an issue if things don’t go smoothly but that reflects Cantona, the maverick, the life of a genius so far. Troubled artist or just troubled. We shall see. Long live the king. 

Eric Cantona

The glaring stare that often frightened opponents in the Old Trafford tunnel is still as intimidating as ever.

Sat upright in the chair like an old school headmaster with his broad shoulders, chest out, flat cap, Cantona  may have retired from football 14 years ago but his eccentric personality is still very much shining bright.

It was almost as if he was about to jump to his feet, turn his collar up and don the famous number seven shirt once again.  

Cantona, since retiring at the age of 30 has gone into new avenues. The New York Cosmos is his latest project with Cantona being appointed Director of Soccer. Quite a far cry from a Premiership appearance or teaming up with film director Ken Loach for the film `Looking for Eric’. And Perhaps that is exactly was he has done.

Why New York Cosmos: “It`s a very special club with a great history, a big project. I want to win the Championship with 5-6 academy players in the team.

“I signed the contract in May 2012; I have put people in the right places and have started to work hard, 100% for the past 8 months. I have a very strong urge, it`s a special city. I`m not tired, I can walk all day.”

This desire to win trophies was embedded into him when in five years at Old Trafford; he won four Premiership titles, scoring 66 goals in 144 appearances and being voted the PFA Player of the Year in the 1993-1994 season. A true legend amongst the United fans.  

From what he said it is certain that at five years under the stewardship of Alex Ferguson at Manchester United, playing alongside Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes, Nicky Butt and the Neville brothers, all products of the United academy, has had more of an impact on his philosophies than some might have imagined.

“Ferguson has humility, humanity, passion, a psychologist, I admire him. Big clubs have problems with different generations but he has adapted to all the generations, the different personalities and helped them develop their own, find freedom, the energy to become competitive. A great tactician, a kind of genius.”

Despite Cantona adopting a forward thinking mentality, it does seem as if there is still one topic that angers him and still gets under his skin. The French national team.

In 1997 he was fined for punching Bruno Martini in the face. A year later he was banned from playing for France for a year when he called the national coach `a bag of shit’. 6 players at Montpellier wanted him sacked after he threw boots at a team mate’s face. 1991 saw Cantona throw the ball in the ref`s face and called all members on the committee panel `idiots’.

“I don’t really care about France. I watch teams who I want to watch, who will entertain me. I like to watch Barcelona and United, players who enjoy the game. This hurting and anger stems from the above incidents and failing to qualify for the 1994 World Cup after defeats to Israel and Bulgaria when they only needed a draw to qualify.

New York Cosmos have certainly got the right man in terms of passion and belief. Temperament may be an issue if things don’t go smoothly but that reflects Cantona, the maverick, the life of a genius so far. Troubled artist or just troubled. We shall see. Long live the king.