Ben Herd / Ben Herd / 16 September 2009 / Leave a comment

Still sidelined through injury, Ben Herd caught up with Port Vale's Gareth Owen to talk promotion, life after football and the usual quick-fire questions.

"I have always been quite good academically, and let's face it, if you play football at this level, then you are going to have to forge another career after football."

Once again, I was still sidelined through injury. On the positive side I have started to do some light training, so hopefully I am not too far away from joining the first team's training sessions. We played Port Vale at the weekend, and can probably count ourselves a little unlucky not to get all three points, based on our second half performance. Once again, I managed to get hold of an opposition player, Gareth Owen, who has captained Stockport in their promotion campaign a couple of years ago.

What did you think of today's Game?

It was a pretty even contest, we had some decent chances particularly in the first half but then so did Aldershot in the second half especially the one where the lad has missed an empty net - I thought that he was certain to score! I think both teams tired massively in the second half due to the heat which made it a pretty mundane last twenty minutes. All in all we will be happy with a point as it keeps our current unbeaten run going.

How has the appointment of Micky Adams changed things at the Club?

He has injected a fresh breath of life into everybody at the club. Since day one he has not accepted any negativity around the place. Also, you know everyday when you come into training he expects 100% work rate and effort and complete professionalism. It is really refreshing, because as players we know exactly where we stand and you can not ask much more than that, it shows in how we have approached this season that the lads are really behind him.

Is Promotion the target for this season?

I think most teams in this division set out at the beginning of the season with promotion in mind. As a squad we haven't really set ourselves any particular targets this season, we don't really want to get too far ahead of ourselves in terms of talking ourselves up, we will let the talking be done on the pitch where it should be done. If we can remain consistent at home and pick up points away then we will have an excellent chance of going up. I know it's a cliche but we cant look beyond the next game so we'll just take each one as it comes!

What does the future hold for life after you hang up your boots?

I have just started a Sports Science degree at Manchester Met; it is my first year enrolled on it and I am quite excited. The aim is to eventually go into teaching or coaching; ideally it would be to stay in the professional game but I wouldn't mind teaching kids either. I have always been quite good academically, and let's face it, if you play football at this level, then you are going to have to forge another career after football.

Finally, any young lads that are worth keeping an eye out for this season?

Rob Taylor, he scored the goal today, he came from non-league with Nuneaton last season. If I am honest it took him a while to find his feet last season, but the manager has pushed him a little up the pitch and told him to use his pace in the final third. His goal was typically of him, using his pace to beat a couple of defenders before slotting it home with his wand of a left foot. If anything he just needs to believe in himself a little more but he's still only 21 so he has great potential.


Football

Favourite Premier League Player? John Terry
Favourite player outside the Premier League? Carlos Puyol
Manager you'd most like to work under? Jose Mourinho
Club you'd most like to play for? Chelsea

Best mate at the club?: Adam Yates
Messiest eater? Adam Yates
Biggest ladies man? A few think they are, but Lewis Haldane
Who's best at putting away the pints? Definately not John McCombe, he falls asleep! Marc Richards

Non-football

Dream date? Halle Berry
Favourite TV programme? Only Fools and Horses
Favourite shop? Mcdonalds
Worst vice? Saving
Biggest pet hate? People who cheat

50/50

Meat or fish? Meat
Wine or beer? Neither
Blondes or brunettes? Blondes
"Friends" or "The Office"? Friends
PS3 or newspaper? Newspaper
Frank Sinatra or Fifty Cent? Frank Sinatra