Wayne Hatswell is one of four new additions to the squad during January, and the experienced defender is relishing the fresh challenge at the Abbey Stadium.

The Bristol-born 32-year-old entered the professional game relatively late in his career, joining Forest Green Rovers in 1999 at the age of 23 and combining playing for the part-timers with his day job at a printing firm.

He quickly caught the attention of bigger clubs though, and halfway through the following season he was signed by League 1 side Oxford United for £35,000. He made 48 league appearances in the next 18 months but Oxford were relegated and in the summer of 2002 he moved on to Conference side Chester City.

He spent a season and a half there, making 37 appearances and scoring twice, but suffered the disappointment of missing out to Doncaster Rovers in the play-off semi-finals despite contributing a goal in one leg.

However, he returned to the Football League when Kidderminster paid a reported £8,000 for him in October 2003 and stayed for two and a half years, quickly being appointed captain by then-manager Jan Molby and earning Player of the Year plaudits at the end of his first season.

"I had a few good years there but we got relegated out of the Football League in 2005 so I found myself back in the Conference again," he says.

With Kidderminster reducing their playing staff as part of a cost-cutting exercise, Wayne moved on to struggling League 2 side Rushden & Diamonds for an undisclosed fee in January 2006, but once again found himself part of an unsuccessful fight against relegation as Diamonds were relegated at the end of the season.

"There's a trend here, isn't there?" he laughs. "I find myself back in the Conference again so let's hope it's third time lucky to get back into the League with Cambridge!"

And after a moment's thought, he adds, "But if we're lucky enough to get back into the League that might be a good time to get rid of me then, before we get relegated..."

Reflecting on his career to date, Wayne summarises by saying, "There have been some ups and downs along the way but it's certainly been interesting. My favourite spell would probably be at Kidderminster; when I first went there we had a great season. We were second from bottom in the league and it was a battle and everyone had written us off, but we had a good side and we got ourselves out of the relegation mire.

"This was under Jan Molby and I was made captain almost straightaway and it was a good time for me. I played really well and got Player of the Year and stuff like that, and I feel the side we had then was probably one of the best sides I've played in. If we could have kept that side together we would have been a big threat to anyone in that league the year after.

"But I've enjoyed all the moves that I've had. Going into the League and making that step up again was always nice, and just proving to yourself that you could do it, which was good."

Wayne agrees that coming into the full-time ranks at 23 after working in a 'normal' job probably gives him a slightly different appreciation and perspective on the game.

"It was a massive culture shock to me," he admits. "I was playing for Cinderford Town before I went to Forest Green and I was at Forest Green for less than a year, so I jumped from the old Beazer Homes League to League 1 in the space of a year and a half.

"I'd been working hard in my job and combining it with training and playing, but after suddenly going to full-time football I lost a lot of weight from training full-time and spent a lot of time on the couch because I was shattered. But you get used to it.

"People say it must be nice to have time during the day to do this and that after training, but you do push your body to the limits at times and it's hard, especially at the lower end of the leagues when you're fighting week in, week out.

"You're always playing for a contract too, and it's not like it's a contract that's going to set you up for life. A Premiership player can probably retire at 35 and never work again and live in a massive house, but it's not like that for us guys. I've been in the lower reaches of the leagues and it's been hard, but hopefully I can look back on my career one day and give myself a pat on the back, although hopefully not for a few years yet."

Having played under several managers during his career, who stands out as a favourite?

"Yes, I've had a few managers and it was a standing joke at one time that I would have three or four managers a year," he smiles. "Jan Molby stands out as the most high profile I've played under, and he wasn't a ranter and raver, he was one of the quieter managers. He just knew what he wanted from the players and he came over very well.

"Then you get the odd hard taskmaster like Ian Atkins and people like him, so I've seen various different breeds of manager all the way through my career. I'm 32 now and I'd like to get into that side of the game when I finish playing, so it's good that I've seen a good contrast of managers and I can probably take a little bit from each manager and try to use that good experience."

Although primarily a left-sided central defender, Wayne has also filled in at left-back during his career, and he takes the odd free kick and long throws too. "I get my share of goals," he says, "and I've scored from free kicks in the past - usually the skilful players take them, but if it's too far out for them and they haven't got the energy to take it then I'll step up and have a smack.

"A few have gone in for me and it's always nice to score like that, but most of them are with my head at corners. I like to weigh in with a few each year and I think as a centre back it helps the team out a little bit."

Having grown up when the Liverpool team was dominant, Wayne says Alan Hansen was a defender he admired but he acknowledges that the cultured Scot was usually granted a lot more time and space than the average Conference defender.

Whilst relishing the challenge ahead in the next stage of his career at Cambridge United, he also has an eye on the future and his desire to eventually become a manager, and to that end he has already qualified for his UEFA 'B' coaching licence and is planning to move onto the UEFA 'A' qualification.

"It's something I enjoy and something I would like to move into when I eventually stop playing, which hopefully won't be for a while yet," he adds cheerfully.

"I run my own 'Arsenal Soccer School' for the Wiltshire area, which is where I'm from, and that's something that will be there for me in the future. I'd like to maybe become a manager in the future and perhaps I'll do that by learning from the bottom up by working with kids at that level. It's definitely an option."

Wayne signed for United twelve days ago following our disappointing FA Trophy exit at Histon, and he reveals that it all happened very quickly.

"It did come as a surprise," he admits. "I was told that Cambridge were interested and my feet didn't really touch the floor for a couple of days, but it wasn't a hard decision to make and it's been a good few days for me.

"The Gaffer has tried to sign me a couple of times before when he was at other clubs, so he's obviously been aware of me for some time and it's good to finally be able to sign for him. It's nice for any player to know that you're wanted.

"Obviously losing my first game at Grays was a bit of a disappointment," he adds, "but I was just glad to get that under my belt because it had been a hectic two days. We turned it around on the Tuesday with a good positive win against Droylsden and it's nice to be looking at the right end of the table for a change.

"Personally I feel Rushden are underachieving and they're in a bit of a rut, and I'd be looking up the table thinking 'I'd love to be in those play-off places', and suddenly I've found myself thrust into it. We're moving in the right direction and hopefully with the home games coming up we can put a little bit of a gap between ourselves and the sixth-placed team and cement a play-off place."

We also asked Wayne some questions from supporters on the club message board at cambridgeunited.com, starting with one from 'face' who asks: "As a recent new signing, how are Cambridge United seen from outside the club?"

Wayne: "This is regarded as a big club. I remember coming here while I was at Oxford United and I always remember it was one of the first daunting places I'd played at. It's a proper Football League club in a Football League ground and I remember we got beat that day and the crowd were deafening.

"You get the feeling that this is a sleeping giant at the moment, but it can be a bouncing place to be and the fans are just waiting for it to erupt. I think they can see that things are bubbling a little bit and hopefully we can give them what they've been looking for for a few years now."

Dan asks: "What are your views on cup competitions such as the Setanta Shield? Do you see them as a welcome break from the league or a hindrance to the already cluttered schedule?"

Wayne: "As a player you just see them as another game. Any suggestion otherwise is probably down to fans and managers around the country, because as a player once you pull that shirt on and go out to play you don't think 'I won't try as hard in this game because it's the Setanta Shield' or whatever, you go out there to play and you want to win. That's the way I've always played and those sort of things don't even enter your mind.

"You want to do well in any cup, whatever it is and whoever you're playing. Who's going to say no to going to Wembley or any cup final? But afterwards, depending on how your season goes, you either see it as a hindrance or look back on the confidence boost from a good cup run. A good cup run breeds confidence and develops the winning mentality. Who wants to lose a football match because it's in a certain competition?"

Luke asks: "How is Cambridge United different to Rushden?"

Wayne: "Good question. They're kind of both in the same boat because they've both been in the Football League, they have the set-ups to be League clubs and in my eyes they probably both should be in the League instead of certain other teams, but that's football and it's what happens on the pitch that puts you where you are.

"I'd say Cambridge are further along than Rushden in terms of development and coming back from relegation. Rushden have a lot of young players and Cambridge have probably got more men in a bigger squad and more money to make that push for promotion. League tables don't lie and Cambridge are in a better position at the moment, but that's no disrespect to Rushden; they have a lot of good players there and they're trying to have a transition and a turnaround.

"They were relegated the year after Cambridge and I've seen the effect relegation has on clubs; it does take a few years to try and get the wheels in forward motion again because a lot happens to clubs when they go down and it's not a nice place to be around. You lose a lot of revenue and it can have an adverse effect on all the staff, and it takes some clubs years to recover.

"Cambridge have been through it, they've hit the lows and now they're moving forward again, which is good. I think Rushden are still just on the back foot at the moment but they're a big club with the right facilities and right people that can get back into the League.

"So there's not a lot of difference between the clubs but Cambridge are maybe just a year or so in front of Rushden. They were close to relegation even last year but they're at the right end of the table and that's where we want to be, and if we can keep that trend going it's going to be great for the club."

Daniel asks: "Do you find playing in a back three more difficult than a regular back four?"

Wayne: "Yes! (laughs) It's a little bit out of my comfort zone. I'm naturally left-footed and I'm used to playing on the left of two central defenders, and I like that little bit of cover where you don't seem so exposed and it doesn't feel as though the whole team is coming at you!

"But I've had a few games to try to get used to it and I'll do the best I can in any given position, no matter where I play. When I've been asked to play at left back I don't find that my best position but I've had some good games at left back and I try to just get on with whatever I'm given.

"It's not a position I've been used to because I think I'm a better player as a centre-back in a four, when I know I've got that assurance to the left of me and the side of me, but if that's the way I have to play at the moment to secure a place in the team then I'll give it my best shot and that's all I can do."

Dave asks: "What exactly did you think when you realised you'd scored the comedy own goal of the century?"

Wayne (laughs again): "Do you know what - if I had a pound for every time someone asks me that question I wouldn't have to play football any more!

"What can I say? It's just one of those things and it's going to live with me for a very long time, and I think I'll have to get in touch with the TV companies very soon because the royalties on that goal have gone in the wrong pocket and they should be going into mine!

"It was years ago and I'll always get ribbed about it, but I suppose they say there's no such bad thing as bad publicity and at least people know who I am, even if it's for the wrong reason. In all my coaching sessions I say 'this isn't how to do it', and there's obviously more to my game than that. Who knows - if we go up this year and I've scored a few at the right end, maybe people will remember me for that instead."

Dave adds: "Were you relieved when you saw Bury player Chris Brass smack the ball into his own face to take away your title?"

Wayne: "That's another standing joke because on all the own goal videos that are out now I don't think I'm number one any more - I've been knocked off the top spot!"

Ben asks: "Who's the best opponent you've played with and against in your career?"

Wayne: "I've played with a few good players towards the end of their careers. I played with Andy Linighan at Oxford United and he had that presence about him; he was obviously a big player who had played at the top level and I enjoyed playing with him. He was a good person to have around the club too because of all the stories he used to come out with, and he's probably the best I've played alongside.

"Phil Gray was a Northern Ireland international centre forward who had played for Spurs and he was at Oxford too. They were players who were coming toward the end of their career but they'd obviously been there and done it, and my Oxford United days were probably the best players I've played with.

"The best player I've played against would probably be from a few of the friendlies I've played in. When I was at Chester we played Liverpool and they had a star-studded team against us that day, so there was the likes of Carragher, Berger, Baros and that sort of player, so that was a big day for me and we beat them 1-0 too.

"Then there are people like Paul Scholes when we played Man United, and we played Arsenal in a behind closed doors friendly and that was an amazing day to be up against some massive players. So I've been lucky to play against some good teams and a few of the Premiership boys over the years, and long may that continue."

Closing with his hopes for the rest of the season, Wayne has his sights set firmly on the play-offs at the very least.

"This is a daunting place to come, and as a visiting team the crowd are against you and you always know you're in for a hard game," he says. "The facilities are good and the team is confident after a really good start to the season, and winning can become a habit. Cambridge have that habit at home and obviously we want to keep that going for the rest of the season.

"We have to build on that confidence and hopefully the strikers will keep banging the goals in and putting sides to bed. Exeter are a good side and they're up there in the chase, but at Rushden in my last game we beat them 3-0 so I've seen them recently and I know they're beatable.

"Every team we play here at present is going to be saying in their team talk that they want to be the first to win here this season, but they'll know how difficult it is and if we go a goal up then the game plan changes and hopefully we can take advantage of that.

"I'm getting to know the players in training and I like what I see so far, and I don't see why we can't keep this going and push on up the table."

Andrea Thrussell
web@cambridge-united.co.uk

*A shorter version of this interview was originally published in the programme for the match against Exeter City on Tuesday 29th January, 2008

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