I spoke with Jonny Howson this week at the Riverside. He was full of praise for the amazing progress of Middlesbrough Women to top of the league and then shared his disappointment at losing out in the semi final at Chelsea. It would have been a first Wembley final for Jonny.
I waited patiently for the other reporters and then asked him two quick questions.
Q: Is it still something you enjoy passing on knowledge and experience to young players alongside you like Hayden Hackney?
JH: Of course it is yes. I look at the likes of Hayden, Dael, obviously Dael is a bit older but when I first came he was a bit younger and I was fortunate enough to play for my homegrown side, or the club that I supported and it is an unbelievable feeling because they would have been kids coming to support the club and then to go on and play for that club it is what dreams are made of.
I was very fortunate on that aspect so when you have got the likes of Hayden, Dael, there are obviously others that have come through, you want them to go and do well. Because I know how much it will mean to them because lets be honest I have been there and done it maybe at different levels but it is still the same and I want them to have all the success they can do. I think when you get a bit older you appreciate more things and in a strange sort of way lets be honest I have had most of my career now, so I want to help them to go on and achieve rather than look at it from an individual point of view of what is better for me, it is what is better for those lads and how much can I help them.
Q: You suffered disappointment at Stamford Bridge and of course personally you missed out on the play offs getting injured in the warm up right at the end of the season. I suppose we are now chasing a second chance for Wembley now if we could get to the play offs. How would that be as substitute for the elusive cup final?
JH: Obviously it would do because when I first came to the club that was my aim and that has not changed even to now because we have failed up until now and we have still not achieved that, so that was my aim here and that is my main focus. The cup run was a bit of a bonus or lets be honest something we didn't expect, or out of the blue and sometimes in football you get opportunities and you have got to try and take them. It wasn't to be but obviously getting promoted out of the league is the main focus because I have been trying to do it for years (smiles/laughs).
I waited patiently for the other reporters and then asked him two quick questions.
Q: Is it still something you enjoy passing on knowledge and experience to young players alongside you like Hayden Hackney?
JH: Of course it is yes. I look at the likes of Hayden, Dael, obviously Dael is a bit older but when I first came he was a bit younger and I was fortunate enough to play for my homegrown side, or the club that I supported and it is an unbelievable feeling because they would have been kids coming to support the club and then to go on and play for that club it is what dreams are made of.
I was very fortunate on that aspect so when you have got the likes of Hayden, Dael, there are obviously others that have come through, you want them to go and do well. Because I know how much it will mean to them because lets be honest I have been there and done it maybe at different levels but it is still the same and I want them to have all the success they can do. I think when you get a bit older you appreciate more things and in a strange sort of way lets be honest I have had most of my career now, so I want to help them to go on and achieve rather than look at it from an individual point of view of what is better for me, it is what is better for those lads and how much can I help them.
Q: You suffered disappointment at Stamford Bridge and of course personally you missed out on the play offs getting injured in the warm up right at the end of the season. I suppose we are now chasing a second chance for Wembley now if we could get to the play offs. How would that be as substitute for the elusive cup final?
JH: Obviously it would do because when I first came to the club that was my aim and that has not changed even to now because we have failed up until now and we have still not achieved that, so that was my aim here and that is my main focus. The cup run was a bit of a bonus or lets be honest something we didn't expect, or out of the blue and sometimes in football you get opportunities and you have got to try and take them. It wasn't to be but obviously getting promoted out of the league is the main focus because I have been trying to do it for years (smiles/laughs).
