An Ipswich Town loanee who has made a midfield place his own since arriving here in February, Jai Reason is hoping to extend his stay with Cambridge United.

Born and raised in Southend, Jai joined his favourite club West Ham as a schoolboy when he was ten, then was spotted by Ipswich Town and graduated through their development centre and academy to sign a two-year scholarship with the guarantee of a one-year professional contract.

"I signed my professional contract at the start of this season, which is every boy's dream, but there are so many good players at Ipswich - especially in my position, with the likes of Owen Garvan and Tommy Miller who are a league above the rest - so it's hard to get a game there."

Ipswich manager Jim Magilton is a friend of Gary Brabin and he recommended that Jai (pronounced 'Jay') went out on loan to play some first team football, which resulted in a brief trial at York City earlier this season and now his loan here, which has resulted in his senior debut and five consecutive - and unbeaten - starts so far.

As infectious and enthusiastic to talk to as he is on the pitch, Jai is clearly grateful for the chance to play first team football and enjoying his time here.

"I've got to really thank the gaffer here for giving me this opportunity. I didn't know much about the club, apart from playing here for the youth team one pre-season, so I had to go on the Internet and see what's going on and what players were here.

"I didn't realise this club had such a big fan base and it should definitely be a league club again, and I want to help the push for the play-offs."

Enjoying a rare day off after Monday's draw at Histon, he admits, "It was quite a tough game and my legs are feeling it a bit after five games in about two weeks. I've never had that before so preparing for games properly and looking after my legs has been so important, whereas in Ipswich reserves there would only be one game every two weeks.

"It's a massive difference and it's so competitive in this league that after a couple of games my legs were really struggling, but I'm starting to get into a routine and it seems to be fine now."

The coaching staff have given plenty of advice and instruction on rest and recovery between matches, and the senior players like Wayne Hatswell have also helped Jai adjust to competitive football.

"The more experienced players have helped a lot, like Hats has been telling me what to do and how to look after myself so it's good to learn from him," says Jai, who also praised the defender for his long-range volleyed goal at Histon.

"He's been having a few shots off target in the last few games and I was thinking 'stop shooting, Hats', then he pulled that one out so I'm not complaining - it was a great finish!"

Jai feels that the chance to play first team football has really helped his game and he is enjoying playing in front of the U's fans: "I love it here. I'm enjoying my football again and I'm getting back to my old form and my old self. When you're enjoying it your confidence goes up, so if we're doing well and I'm playing I really can't complain.

"The fans here are great and they've helped a lot, too," he adds. "I've never played in front of fans before so I'm relishing every moment, and they really do sing and get behind the team so that helps all the players."

After three games on the road, Jai was eagerly anticipating his home debut in the bruising match last weekend against Crawley, and he thoroughly enjoyed the atmosphere and playing in front of over 3,200 people.

"I loved every minute - I'd been waiting for a long while to play in front of the home crowd and the fans didn't disappoint. We should really have beaten Crawley because we turned them over in the second half so it was disappointing to only draw, but it was a good day for me personally.

"I wasn't really nervous because I think the adrenaline kicks in. It was a bigger ground and crowd after being away at Grays and Lewes, and the fans pack the place out and create a great atmosphere so I absolutely loved it."

A big admirer of former Hammer star Paolo di Canio, and a creative player who likes to get on the ball and pick out a pass, especially in the final third, Jai admits that he has had to adapt quickly to the rough and tumble of some of the games in the Blue Square Premier, especially the last two games:

"I've had to mix up my game a bit - I like to get on the ball and start things off but in the last two games we've had to scrap and match them physically and mentally.

"We like to get on the ball and play good football, but they warned me beforehand that Crawley and Histon would play it long and play for set pieces and hit their front men, so we had to match them and it meant me changing my game, but I'm learning all the time.

"There was an amazing atmosphere inside the ground at Histon as well; it makes the hair on the back of your neck stand up, especially for me being young and never played in a derby before. I've played in Ipswich-Norwich derbies for the reserves but you don't get a crowd there, so Monday night was great. The fans were like our twelfth man and they definitely did help us along."

Playing in a televised game was also a novelty and the moment is well preserved in the Reason household; "All my mates watched and texted me, giving me some stick, and my mum recorded it and I've got the copies at home so I've watched it again."

Jai has been a big hit during his initial one month loan and he was delighted when the loan was extended: "I would love to stay here and keep playing and pushing for the play-offs.

"I've been wanting to get out on loan all season and I've had to be patient and look after myself and make sure I'm fit so when it did come along I was ready, and I'm so glad right now that I took the advice of the staff and team-mates at Ipswich to keep in shape so as soon as Cambridge came in for me I was ready to go."

He speaks highly of his club and the help they have given him as he developed both physically and as a player throughout his teens: "They've been great to me, especially the coaches and the fitness man there, Simon Thadani, he's helped me out so much with my physical presence and improving my speed and my fitness.

"When I was younger I didn't know if I would get taller or stronger but I had a strict programme from Simon and he's helped me out so much, so the academy is in good hands with the people there.

"They've got so many good players there too, like Ivan Campo. You learn so much from training with someone like him every day; he's won the Champions League twice and you learn something new all the time."

With his current contract expiring in the summer and U's fans already asking if he might stay permanently, Jai admits he does not know what lies ahead for him.

"I haven't a clue at the moment what will happen. I would have to sit down with Ipswich and with the gaffer here and see what's best, but I think the next step is to hopefully extend my loan and see if I can stay for another month or to the end of the season. I really hope that happens."

Before then though, Jai hopes to keep his place for today's match at home to league leaders Burton Albion.

"They're running away with the league at the moment so I'm looking forward to seeing what they're all about and I'm sure we can at least match them, if not more, because we've got some real talent here and it should be a really good test.

"If they get the ball down and so do we then the fans will be in for a real treat today, and hopefully we can come away with all three points.

"With the quality we've got in the squad, including the players who haven't been in the team, we have every chance and I'm learning every day from the people around me here."

He also hates losing and had to apologise to his mum on Tuesday for his bad mood after only drawing at Histon on Monday night, but says it is a trait that runs throughout the dressing room here.

"We're all winners and we're getting a winning mentality too, which is a great thing to have. To keep winning and winning is a fantastic feeling and once you've got it you don't want to lose it, so all the players are pushing to win every game."

Let's hope we're all sharing that winning feeling this evening.

Andrea Thrussell
web@cambridge-united.co.uk

*An edited version of this interview was published in the programme for the match against Burton Albion on Saturday 7th March 2009.

Previous Featured Player articles

Anything to say about the interview? Make your click count for the U's by discussing it on the Message Board!

You are respectfully reminded that any article, as with all content on this website (unless otherwise stated), is subject to copyright and the Official Cambridge United Website must be acknowledged as the original source.

AT090425