Interview ~ Steve Claridge

STEVE CLARIDGE FACT FILE:

Squad Number: 26
Date of Birth: 10th April 1966
Previous Clubs: Bournemouth, Aldershot, Cambridge United, Luton Town, Birmingham City, Leicester City, Portsmouth, Wolves, MilIwall, Weymouth, Brighton and Hove Albion, Brentford.
Interesting Fact: Steve was player manager at Weymouth during the 2003-04 season and featured in the BBC documentary series Football Diaries.

The Veteran Centre Forward and TV commentator spoke to The Wanderer after the win against Kidderminster.

So Steve, a fairly comfortable win today.

SC: Yep, we were due it. One point from the last nine was a little disappointing but hopefully now we can put a bit of pressure on the teams ahead of us. I think a couple of them lost today and they’ve all got to play each other still, so there’s still a little bit of light at the end of the tunnel.

What made you join Wycombe?

SC: I spoke to the manager and he was great. It felt right and it felt good. I enjoyed my time on loan and we played some good stuff. It was an easy decision in the end.

How does Wycombe compare to all the other clubs that you’ve played for?

SC: It’s as enjoyable as I’ve found it. I’ve played for bigger clubs and for smaller clubs but the pressure is self imposed. You always try and do your best, no matter how many people come and watch you. I’ve enjoyed it because they seem knowledgeable and they don’t get on your back. I think people appreciate it when you try your best and you try and play football like we’re doing. We’re just disappointed that we haven’t been able to get into the top 6 because if we had I think it would have been difficult to get us out of it.

Is it difficult juggling your media commitments with playing?

SC: No, not really. I tend to have an extra day off like most of the players in the league at my age. I need that because I’m doing a lot of travelling and staying in a lot of hotels. Obviously I have to stay within the Wycombe area for training but it’s not a problem because I enjoy it. I keep myself fit and have plenty of time to do my fitness. At my age, if I didn’t look after myself I’d be struggling so I must be doing something right.

How much longer do you think you will carry on playing?

SC: I can’t answer that. All the time I’m enjoying it and if things are going okay I’ll keep playing. I’m not going to give up just because of my age or because someone says I should. I’ll give up when I stop enjoying it.

Will you still be at Wycombe next season?

SC: I very much hope so. It will only get better because I’ll get to know the players even more and we’ll start on a level playing field. I don’t think we’ll be playing under the pressure that we’ve been under this year because we were I 7th.when I came here so it’s been a case of playing catch up. Every game we’ve played has been a pressure situation because we’ve been trying to get in amongst them. If we started on a level playing field with the squad we’ve got, I think we’d be okay.

Do you think the team can still make the play-offs this season?

SC: I hope so. It’s not in our hands, all we can do is keep winning games like we have today. The other teams have run- ins against each other which obviously means they can’t all pick up maximum points. It’s strange the results that can happen, I mean Kidderminster went to Darlington and won 2-0. That sum’s this league up.

You played in League One for Brentford earlier this season. Do you think that the current squad here at Wycombe is good enough to play there?

SC: Yeah definitely. I think it would probably suit us a little bit more because we are one of the footballing sides in this division. The reason we play football is because were good enough to play football. A lot of the teams in this league you look at and wonder why they don’t get the ball down and play and the reason that they don’t is because they’re not good enough to, whereas we are. And the higher you go the more it suits the sides that play good football

What’s been the highlight of your career so far?

SC: I think probably scoring the goal in the play-off final (Leicester V Crystal Palace). I mean the Coca - Cola cup final was great because the goal was super and I enjoyed it, but that was the icing on the cake. Going into the Premier League with Leicester was fantastic.

What’s been the highlight of your time here at Wycombe so far?

SC: The first goal against Scunthorpe but as I say, the whole experience has been enjoyable, so hopefully the highlights are still to come...

Is it true that you’re quite superstitious? 

SC: No. I’m just strange.

What about your lucky socks?

SC: Oh it’s nothing superstitious, it’s all psychological. If I go into it too much I’ll make myself sound like a lunatic. There’s just certain things that I do that obviously others don’t.

One thing I’ve noticed is that when the crowd chant your name you always acknowledge them even during a game. Is that something that you’ve done throughout your career?

SC: Yeah I mean it’s what it’s all about. Players, chairmen, directors they all come and go. We’re all passing through, but the fans are what make the club, so it's nice to appreciate them because they’re there through thick and thin and they’ll be here long after we’re all gone. They pay their money and I think you should appreciate that because they’re what the club is all about.

Do you think that when you eventually finish playing you’ll be able to say you achieved everything that you set out to?

SC: I don’t know about that. There’s obviously things that you’d like to have done differently with hindsight, but it’s a lesson learnt really. I haven’t done badly, it could have been better, it could have been worse but I consider myself extremely lucky to have had the career that! have had.