Interview With... Andy O'Brien
A centre back is a position filled with commanders and leaders of the game, both past and present. Whether it is Franz Beckenbauer, Paolo Maldini or Virgil Van Dijk, the position is one of major importance in any great team. We talked to Hanwell Town FC centre half, Andy O'Brien about his career in Ireland and abroad, his time at Hanwell and ask him 'The Big Question.'
EARLY CAREER
Jacob Welch, JW: So, you started your career in Ireland, were you part of any youth set ups or academies in Ireland?
Andy O'Brien, AoB: Played most of my schoolboy football with Greystones United, my hometown club. I signed for St. Josephs Boys when I was 17, arguably Ireland’s top schoolboy club, who’ve produced some top players & many Irish internationals down the years. From there I signed for Wayside Celtic when I turned 18 & made the step into Senior football. Wayside played in the top tier of the Leinster Senior League (the Irish 3rd division). We won the league in my first season. I didn’t realise at the time what an achievement it was. When you’re 18 you think you’ve got years of winning trophies ahead of you. If only football was that easy.
CAREER ABROAD
JW: What was the next step in your career?
AoB: I then spent a year in Australia & did a full pre-season with Sydney University FC, who were playing in the Australian 3rd division. I left Australia to travel at the start of the season, which didn’t go down too well... When I got back to Ireland, I signed back for Greystones United, who were lower down the football pyramid at the time, playing in what was effectively the Irish 6th division. We were too good for that league, and were promoted 3 times in 4 seasons, back into the top division of the Leinster Senior (Irish 3rd division). After 7 seasons at Greystones, the club I captained, loved & always will love, it was time for a change...
COMING TO HANWELL
JW: What change did you make?
AoB: At 26, I moved to London, accepting a job in finance with the FA, based in Wembley Stadium. I signed with Hanwell at the start of that 18/19 season, playing in the Isthmian South Central (step 4). In the end we weren’t far off playoffs that season, after going on a brilliant unbeaten run after Christmas, but ultimately fell just short.
THIS SEASON WITH HANWELL
JW: Moving on to this season how has it been for you?
AoB: This season we made some quality signings & more importantly kept the core of the dressing room together. We’re a proper family in there now. We’re currently sitting second, with 10 games to go. For me personally it’s probably been my best season in football. If you’d told me in the summer I’d have played (almost) every game (bar a holiday to Australia at Christmas which the managers love to talk about 😂) & captained the side for the last 8 games or so, I’d have bitten your hand off. I am very proud of what we’re achieving as a group this year - but there’s a long way to go. I’ve had enough low moments in football to realise that. I’m not the 18-year-old naïve kid anymore. Ten years on I still love my football, arguably more than ever. I just have less pace & clip the channels more ⚽️ #UpTheGeordies
THE BIG QUESTION
JW: For one final question, if you could have dinner with 3 footballing people, whether it be players, coaches, physios etc, who would they be and why?
AoB: George Best, Roy Keane & Peter Crouch. Best & Crouch are cut from the same cloth in my head- the two boys would be having a serious laugh winding Keane up. In terms of professionalism you probably couldn’t get 2 more polar opposites than Keane & Best. Would be fascinating to sit there & stir the pot with Crouch, who seems like he could easily be one of your mates, proper funny chap.
JW: Haha, that is a great shout. Thank you for your time Andy.
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