Ben Herd / Ben Herd / 15 December 2009 / Leave a comment " class="free-bet-btn" rel="external" onclick="javascript: pageTracker._trackPageview('/G4/inline-freebet');" target="_blank">Free Bet

After being involved in Aldershot's biggest defeat at the hands of Burton Albion at the weekend, Ben Herd caught up with experienced goal-getter Richard Walker to talk about scoring at the Holte End, internet poker and all-round nice-guy Paul Peschisolido.

"I like the idea of becoming a professional poker player. I have been hooked on internet poker for a few years and I have had some decent success, so who knows? I might try my hand at that. After all, people told me I wouldn't become a footballer and I did. "

Well, it's been a busy couple of weeks since I last had a player to interview, we have been knocked out of the FA Cup and suffered a humiliating defeat at Burton Albion! Let's just hope the latter was a one-off and let it be our "freak" result of the season. The good thing about this time of the season is that there are plenty of games available to put bad results behind you. This week my interviewee for betting.betfair.com, is Richard Walker. Richard has been a very successful goalscorer in the lower divisions throughout his career, after starting off for his boyhood team Aston Villa, in the Premier League. Incidentally, Richard ruined my proudest moment in football, the play-off final at Wembley, by scoring twice to secure victory for Bristol Rovers!

Richard, you probably had a very good view from the bench, so what did you make of the game?

In all honesty, it wasn't the prettiest of games, it was scrappy straight from kick-off. I know we have come away from the game 6-1 winners, but I think the scoreline probably doesn't reflect the game, it just seemed as though everything we touched went in. Aldershot had some good chances at 4-1 to have scored another. You lot hit the post and if that had gone in, then who knows what might have happened?

How has your season gone so far? And what do you, as a club, expect from the season?

From a personal point of view, I haven't scored enough goals - that's a mixture of not enough playing time and not taking some chances. So obviously I hope my season can take off again. As a club and manager, it's our first year in the football league so initially avoiding relegation was the target, but we find ourselves in mid table at the minute, so we are now looking up and thinking about making the play-offs. Credit for this has to go to the lads and our manager, Paul Peschisolido. He is probably the nicest manager I have had in football.

What has been the best moment in your career?

I have a couple. The first was making my debut and scoring for my boyhood team Aston Villa, in front of the Holte end in the Premier League. The second (and I am sorry Herdy) was scoring twice in the very first play-off game at the new Wembley stadium against your team at the time, Shrewsbury.

Yeah and I still haven't forgiven you! But moving on, which coach has had the biggest influence on your career?

It has to be my youth team coach at Villa, Kevin Mcdonald. He was fantastic for me and a great example of how a coach should be with young players, because he was always encouraging me and believing in me, which gave me the confidence to climb my way through the youth team and into the first team at Villa.

You are 32 now, so have you thought about your next career after football?

I like the idea of becoming a professional poker player. I have been hooked on internet poker for a few years and I have had some decent success, so who knows? I might try my hand at that. After all, people told me I wouldn't become a footballer and I did. If I wasn't going to go down the poker route, then I would definitely have to start my own business because I couldn't work for somebody. I'm not quite sure what that business will be, but I have a few more years to think about it and who knows, this time next year we could be millionaires!!

Football

Favourite Premier League Player? Gabriel Agbonlahor
Favourite player outside the Premier League? Ricky Lambert (I got him his move)
Manager you'd most like to work under? Ian Holloway
Club you'd most like to play for? Aston Villa

Best mate in Football? Aaron Lescott
Messiest eater? Russell Penn
Biggest ladies man? Andrew Corbett
Worse Dressed team-mate? John Mcgrath

Non-football

Dream date? Shakira
Favourite TV programme? Prison Break
Favourite shop? Selfridges
Worst vice? Internet Poker
Biggest pet hate? Smokers

50/50

Chinese or Curry? Chinese
Dani Minouge or Cheryl Cole? Cheryl Cole
Strictly or The X Factor? The X factor
Pro Evo or Fifa? Pro Evo
Michael Buble or Akon? Buble

Tags: Aldershot Town, Ben Herd, football tips, League two matches, Richard Walker Burton Albion