Interview ~ Paul Reid

An Interview With Paul Read in the Centre Spot.

We haven't seen much about you in the programme, can you give us a career resume?

I've been at Arsenal since I was 10 and I went through the School of Excellence there. When I left school I signed YTS at 16, then signed Pro at 17. I had a 4 year deal to start with, saw that out and then did another 2 years after that They offered me a new contract when I was 22, but I turned it down because of the sheer lack of opportunities at Arsenal. I spent about 6 months on the transfer list at my request.

What influenced you to come to Wycombe?

I played here about 3 seasons ago in a pre-season friendly - I think you’d just got into the 3rd Division came here and saw the set up and I've been impressed ever since really. I kept a look out, because Ty Gooden was here from Arsenal, and I was due to come here under Alan Smith when he got the sack. The set up here's excellent for a 2nd Division Club; the pitch, manager, staff, ground - everything about it really impressed me. At the time I wasn't doing anything at Arsenal, just sitting in the reserves. It was an opportunity for me to get out, just to be involved in the lst Team. There wasn't really any main reason why I came -just for the football and the chance to progress my career.

How do you feel about not getting as much 1st Team football as you'd hoped?

Obviously I'm not happy about it' but every player goes through a time when they're out of the side. Started off really well the first 3 or 4 games, but unfortunately I got quite a serious injury against Peterborough which kept me out for 6 weeks, but the team were picking up results and I never really expected to get back into the side at the end of last season anyway. It's not for me to walk straight back into the side - I've got to prove myself to the manager, the lads at the time were doing well and I was pleased for the club to get out of the relegation zone more than anything. I started this season playing some games and scoring some goals, then I was dropped for whatever reason, came back in and didn't do myself justice at all, got dropped again then scored in the game against Walsall. That's part and parcel of football. I'm not going to insist on being in the 1st Team and knock on the manager's door. The manager picks the side that's good for Wycombe and I'm pleased for the lads that do play. If we do well we get the points. It's all about WWFC, not about me and why I should be playing. I'm pleased I carne here, I'm doing a lot better than at Arsenal and I'm more involved now even if I’m a sub or playing or travelling or whatever. It's one of those things, you've got to work hard, up your game, and get back in the side, prove your point and hopefully you'll stay there.

What was it like living in Ian Wright's shadow?

Difficult, I must admit - there were lots and lots of good strikers there at the time, you can roll them of the tongue - Paul Mason, Kevin Campbell.... but because you train with them you learn a lot. In the end you have to look at yourself in the mirror and say I'm not going to play at Arsenal and that was what I had to do. So really for the last 18 months I was taking as much as I could from the senior players, learning, using their advice, and using it when I came to Wycombe to play.

Do you support Arsenal?

I don't actually support them but I look out for their results. When they're on TV I like to see them win. I was there for so long and I've still got a lot of friends there, the back room staff, a lot of the players, and I'm pleased when they do well. Maybe, when you've been at a club 7 or 8 years it gets into your blood anyway. When I was a kid, it was Tottenham; you look out for the teams that are winning a lot. As soon as I started at Arsenal I had that drilled out of me

Who do you stay in touch with up there?

There's quite a few 1 stay in touch with, but Stephen Hughes is the main one. I ring him about once or twice a week to see how he's doing. If I'm in the area I might watch a game - I do enjoy going back there.

What do you think of 2nd Division football generally?

I think it's a good standard I must admit, I was very impressed. It took me time to get used to it, faster and more hectic than I thought it would be. It's a lot stronger physically, there's a lot of really big players. The standards of teams and clubs is impressive. You've got Fulham spending money like there's no tomorrow, but I’ve been impressed with other teams like Luton. Watford and Bristol City' are doing well at the moment. A lot of teams in the 2nd Division wouldn't look out of place in the 1st Division, it's of that high a standard. The Premiership is pumped so much on the television that everyone thinks the lower Divisions are just for players who are kicking their heels and it's not - there's a lot of really good players in Division 2.

What about the standard of referees?

You get bad referees wherever you go - it's all part and parcel. I wouldn't like to be a ref myself though. Some of the situations they've come under - when they do something wrong they've got a lot of people watching, and they've got very difficult jobs. You're going to get bad decisions whatever league you're in, even the Premiership. It might help if there were professional refs rather than part timers, or getting ex-players because they know the game and the way the players feet about it.

Where are Wycombe going this season?

At the moment we're sifting reasonably well. We had an excellent start, being third, then like any club you go through a dip in performance, lost a few games. We're drawing too many games now than we'd like, but it's not a bad time because it means we're not losing -if we can turn the draws into victories it should mean we're there or thereabouts for a playoff place.

So many games this season have been really good in the first half and really awful in the second half. Why do you think that's happened?

That seems to happen a lot in the 2nd Division; perhaps it's inconsistencies in the players. In the Premiership it tends to be for the whole 90 minutes, but that's the difference - lack of concentration, that son of thing. It's hard for the fans and managers to understand. I can't put my finger on it. Walsall was a prime example. In the first half we'd have beaten most 1st Division sides the way we were playing, but the second half was diabolical. It's very difficult to say why teams do it – if I knew the answer I'd be a millionaire by now! I know the lads try to do well for 90 minutes, it just doesn't seem to work all the time.

What did you all feel about the cup defeat at Basingstoke?

Bad question that!! I think if everyone's honest with themselves we didn't play well over the 2 games. We were leading both games comfortably. We know we should have won, we know we lets the fans who'd travelled to Basingstoke down and the club down losing to a team like that. I know the lads were disappointed and very upset they'd let the fans down and at the end of the day we only had ourselves to blame. We just couldn't keep the lead. The lads were saying that 3 or 4 years ago Wycombe were doing that - but that's football, you lose a game. Maybe we've had some of our own success rammed down our throats. Overall though I think Basingstoke deserved it - they were the non-league side and they put up a good show. What didn't make it look so bad was that Northampton also struggled and were lucky to go through.

What's morale like at the moment?

Morale's excellent; it always has been since I signed. They're a great bunch of lads. We have a great crack in the dressing room, there are no big-time players here and everyone pulls together and gets on with the job together. You see it on the pitch when we've struggled in some games and pulled a result out of the bag through sheer team spirit. It helps at a club like Wycombe not to have big-time players with their flash ears, players are here wanting to do their best to improve. Maybe get a move somewhere to do well with their career. Morale is exceptional in the dressing room, the manager makes sure of it, he's always talking to the lads.

We've heard it wasn't like that when Alan Smith was here....

Yeah, so I've been told. Managers come and go, a lot of the players didn't like Alan Smith from what I can gather, but I don't want to comment on what it was like when he was here. I know the fans didn't like him very much but he's gone now and the team spirit is tremendous again, which can only be good for Wycombe.

Have you played anywhere other than up front on a regular basis?

No, it's the only position I've ever played in, apart from when the manager employed me in a wide position once. I've always played up front, always wanted to play there and never really thought of playing anywhere else. I enjoy playing with 3 up front; we can attack in numbers and get bodies in there. I quite enjoy playing with 2 wingers who can cross the ball. I think the manager's varied the formation to good advantage; we tend to have quite attacking sides. At the beginning of the season we were scoring a lot of goals, but letting in a lot, which was a problem. Lately we've stopped letting so many in and have looked quite solid, but that seems to go back to the inconsistencies of teams in this Division. Look at Luton last year they were winning and scoring for fun, but this season they're losing all the time.

Do you see us getting to the play-offs?

I can't see why not, although if we were honest maybe mid-table would be more realistic, stabilize ourselves under a new manager and push on next season. We were 3rd for a couple of weeks, played against the big sides and did well - if we can win the next 4 or S games it'll put us in a healthy position coming up to Easter. We're at the point where it could go either way - yes we could do it or no, we're going to sit tight and be safe again. It will be interesting to see what we can do over the next few weeks. Touch wood, we won't have a relegation battle like last season because it wasn't a nice thing to be involved in. We've got the players here, and they all know each other better than last year. I think we did exceptionally well considering everyone had to get used to each other so quickly last season to get the results, but there's too much quality in the squad to be right down the bottom I think we're looking at the top half of the table with the players the manager's got here now.

When we are playing teams lower down the league we don't tend to do so well.

You get some clubs who do well against the best sides - I know playing against them brings the best out of you - when you are playing the Watford's, Bristol City's and Luton's you're playing sides that everyone wants to beat, like Fulham now. Everyone wants to beat Fulham but they are finding it very difficult. It's always nice to go to the big sides who get 13 or 15,000 every week and do well to prove a point. I think that's why the so called minnows do well, because they've got a point to prove that they can actually play at that level. That seems to be our weakness at the moment- if we could turn results against teams like Wigan into good ones then we would be pushing for promotion, because we do seem to do well against the bigger sides.

So where do you want your career to go from here?

As high as possible with any luck, although I'm quite happy where I am. [enjoy it here, and I’d stay here for the remainder of my contract no trouble at all, but I'm like any player, I wouldn't mind a move to play at as high a level as possible. I've been in the Premier League, so I know what it's like - I've seen how things are done and it's obviously the place to be at the moment, but if not and it means I stay at Wycombe for my remaining years or floating round Division 2 then I'm quite happy, because I’m doing what I've always wanted to do, be a professional footballer. There are very few people who make it to the top in any profession but I'm enjoying my time here and I'm just concentrating on doing well for Wycombe.

Where do you see yourself in 5 years time?

Arsenal, with any luck, just to prove a point!!

Would you like to go into managing or coaching?

I'm only 24, that's like another 10 years away! I wouldn't mind going into coaching, but I'm not sure about managing - there's too many distractions. I’m quite a private man, I like to spend time with my family, so I don't think I could hack working a normal 9 - 5. Coaching would he nice because you can see players develop and do the things you tell them. Maybe set up a coaching school and have some fun with the kids and let them enjoy themselves without too much pressure. No, I don't think management's for me - I may change my mind in a few years. But we'll have to wait and see.

What have been high and low points of your career?

High points - probably playing at Wembley for England schoolboys when I was 15 in front 55,000 - that was a special occasion. When I came to Wycombe, scoring 3 in 4 games at the Start of my career, that was good. Low points - probably the anterior cruciate injury when I was 17 ½ when I was out for a year, that was the worst, and also the hip injury I had at Wycombe after everything had started so well for me and it looked like things were going to happen for me. That kept me out for 6 weeks.

How did you get yourself through that?

You’ve just got to - it's all part of being a footballer You get injured, you getup and get on with it' you certainly don't do yourself or your team mates any favours moping around. Obviously it's hard as things had started so well, but it comes with the territory. You get some players who sit there feeling sorry for themselves, but after you've had a couple of days of that you've got to get on with it, get yourself fit and back into the side - it's all you can do or you're wasting the physio's time by being sorry for yourself.

Any embarrassing moments?

Probably the miss against Preston from about a yard

Have you got any regrets?

No, not really. I've always tried to do my best in everything I do. I was brought up to give my best. At the end of the day if that's not good enough you can't do any more.

Who has been your biggest career influence?

My mum and dad did everything possible when I was a kid. Dad knows quite a lot about football. They used to drive me around and stood in the rain, the snow, the mud, the lot, all over the country every Sunday afternoon. Pat Rice was also a big influence at Arsenal. He took me aside when I was 16, took me to another level in the 2 years [was with him as a YTS. I'd like to think I'd learnt a bit from every coach I've played under at Arsenal, and Mr Gregory and Richard Hill, as well as my mum and dad because of what they've done to get me where I am today.

How did you get involved with it all in the first place?

Sunday League football - a little 5-a-side competition in Harlow. An Arsenal scout was driving through to visit a friend and stopped off to watch the game. He liked 2 or 3 players and it went from there really. He spoke to the manager, me and my parents, then I went to Arsenal to train for a couple of days and liked it - you go from there, really.

Have you got any superstitions?

None at all - I think Steve McGavin's about the only one - he likes to come out last in the line up.

There's a lot of comment in the local paper recently about why the town's kids wear Premier League shirts. What could you say to them to persuade them to come and watch Wycombe?

Get the parents to bring them along and see if they like it. I know the club have a lot of matchday activities for them. A team like Wycombe's always going to struggle to get the crowds because there are good 1st Division teams nearby, and the big superstars at the London clubs. They should bring themselves along - they might like it. If they don't do that they won't ever know. Get yourselves along here, have a good time and watch some goals at both ends

Who have you enjoyed playing with?

I enjoy playing with John Cornforth, I drive in with him every day. I think he's a very undervalued player and he's got a wide range of passing skills. We hit it off as soon as soon as I'd come here. We can see what each other's doing and he's a good worker.

What about your toughest opponents?

I'd have to say Watford's back three last season, when we drew 0-0 here. They had the excellent Kevin Millen in goal and were very tough to beat, very well organized. Keith Millen was exceptional. When I was at Arsenal, I played against a lot of first learn players in the reserves, and I'd have to say Danny Maddox of QPR, who's doing really well and was really difficult to get past.

What goal has given you the most satisfaction ? Any David Beckham specials?

No, I'm more of a 6 yard man. I'd like to say the one against Crewe last year when I chested it down and did a scissors kick into the top corner the second game here. That was quite a satisfying one for me. A goal's a goal whether it goes in off my backside or from 20 yards. The penalty against Basingstoke was quite satisfying - I hadn't been on the pitch for more than about 10 seconds and there was a lot of pressure on my first touch, but every goal's pleasing for me.