Ben Herd / Ben Herd / 30 December 2009 / Leave a comment " class="free-bet-btn" rel="external" onclick="javascript: pageTracker._trackPageview('/G4/inline-freebet');" target="_blank">Free Bet

As we approach the halfway stage of the season, Ben Herd realises that he hasn't yet interviewed an Aldershot player. Enter seasoned pro and Ben's bery own room-mate for away matches: Anthony Charles...

"I wish I had the mentality I have now when I was a young pro at Crewe - I used to not listen to coaches, always believing that I was right and probably thinking I was better than I actually was."

Christmas is supposed to be one of the busiest times of the season for a player, but I have to say, this festive period has easily been my quietest, with just our win over Barnet to speak of. Our next game on the 28th was postponed, away at Hereford, for which we had travelled down the previous day and stayed in a hotel for.

I think it is about time the FA or the Football League conformed with most other European leagues when it comes to winter breaks but I haven't got long enough to argue that one on this occasion. It is now pretty much halfway through the season, so I thought it was about time to introduce one of my Aldershot team-mates to betting.betfair.com. After giving it little thought, I decided on my room mate for away trips, Anthony Charles AKA Lenny Kravitz. Incidentally, the man who inadvertently set me up for my first league goal when he was plying his trade at Barnet. Cheers Charlesy.

So Charlesy, What do you make of the season, and how do you see it fairing in the second half?

The start of the season has been very good, when you consider we had a crazy six week spell where we had three different managers. As players we didn't quite know what was going on because there was a lot of talk about possible people getting the job, then we had a caretaker management team and everything was up in the air. In fairness to all the lads, we pulled together and got on with the job in hand; if anything it probably made us tighter as a group. We have had games where we feel we have not taken the points we should have, and there are maybe one or two games where we have nicked a few points. As the second half of the season comes around, I really believe this group of players can definitely achieve success - whether that be in the play-off places or higher depends solely on us.

This is now your 3rd spell as an Aldershot Town player. Just how good do you think our young squad is in comparison to previous squads that you have been involved in at the club?

Year on year squads have to get better because pretty much everyone else is getting better players in so you have to keep up. This year is no exception. I feel we have a better squad this year but ultimately we will be judged on our final league position. As a team we have achieved nothing yet and each and everyone of us can get better and has to want to get better, so we can achieve something as a team.

Who has been your best manager you have worked under?

Simple, Dario Gradi. He took me out of non-league football in London when I was still a teenager and took me to Crewe. Although I didn't break into the first team, he was instrumental in what I did learn at Crewe's academy. It's no surprise to me to see him still managing Crewe, even at his age, football is in his blood.

Do you have any regrets about your career?

Not massive regrets, but I would have to say some small ones. I wish I had the mentality I have now when I was a young pro at Crewe - I used to not listen to coaches, always believing that I was right and probably thinking I was better than I actually was. If I could give advice to any young YTS players then it would be: have a good attitude to learning the game, listen and respect your coaches and enjoy yourself, but take what you're doing seriously.

Finally, I know your're getting on a bit, some of the young lads in the team leave you for dead in the running. Have you thought about another career once football is over, perhaps coaching?

I have thought about it, never a nice thing to actually have to do as it's an admission of getting older, but I would love to join the fire brigade. It is something I have always fancied doing and would probably have gone into it if I wasn't a footballer. As far as coaching is concerned, I don't believe that I have played at a high enough level. I think it would be really difficult to get anywhere on that side of things in the game having not played in at least the top two divisions.

Football

Favourite Premier League Player? John Terry
Favourite player outside the Premier League? Ronaldo - not the fat one.
Manager you'd most like to work under? Jose Mourinho
Club you'd most like to play for? QPR

Best mate in Football? Chris Blackburn
Messiest eater? Clarke Masters
Biggest ladies man? Marvin Morgan - Well he thinks he is anyway!
Worse Dressed team-mate? Marvin Morgan - Just because all of his gear is designer, and he gets every garment dry cleaned, doesn't buy him style!

Non-football

Dream date? Charlize Theron
Favourite TV programme? 24
Favourite shop? HMV
Worst vice? Chocolate
Biggest pet hate? Smokers

50/50

Chinese or Curry? Curry
Pepsi or Coke? Coke
BMW or Audi? Audi
Pro Evo or Fifa? Neither
Michael Buble or Akon? Neither, Jay-Z

Tags: Aldershot players, Anthony Charles, Ben Herd footballer, Dario Gradi, football bets, footballers