Stephen Jordan

Today is set to be the final match of Manchester City defender Stephen Jordan's loan spell, although at the time of going to press John Taylor was in talks to sign the 20-year-old on a permanent basis.

Stephen has spent the last three months on loan at the Abbey Stadium from the club he and his whole family support, and he admits it was a dream come true to be spotted by a Man City scout at the age of eight.

"I started out playing in the Warrington League for my local team, Birchwood, and I got picked up by a scout when I was about eight years old, and I've been with Manchester City ever since. I think I've seen about ten managers come and go in that time! I've always supported City and all my family are City fans as well, so we all support them."

Stephen came through the ranks at Maine Road and turned professional at the age of 17, but although John Taylor has hinted that he thinks the young left back could play further up the pitch, he says he has always played in defence: "I've always been a left back or a centre back, but I've never played on the left wing."

He counts himself fortunate to have worked with one of the country's best left backs in recent seasons, saying, "Stuart Pearce joined City a couple of years ago and he's probably one of the best left backs that England's ever had, so I don't think you could get a bigger idol or role model to follow than him."

However City's success in gaining promotion to the Premiership has had an adverse affect on his own ambitions for first team football, as he explains: "It's really hard to break in, especially this year when they've brought a few really big players in. Last year I was in the squad about ten times so I was on the fringes, but this year it's been a little bit more difficult."

Admitting to slightly mixed feelings, he adds, "I suppose sometimes when they get beat, as a fan you think 'Oh damn" but as a player in a way it's good for me. I think City are doing OK so far. There's a lot of expectation about maybe getting into Europe, but I think staying up is what really matters this year and then build from there."

Because of the lack of first team opportunities at Man City, Stephen welcomed the chance to come to the Abbey on loan to deputise for the injured Fred Murray.

"Kevin Keegan said there were going to be limited opportunities at the moment because I'm still quite young, and he thought it would be valuable experience to go out on loan. He told me Cambridge wanted me to go down for a few days and it all went from there.

"Because I hadn't been playing competitive games my fitness wasn't brilliant when I first came, but as I've played more games my fitness is getting better and hopefully I'll be able to play in the FA Cup now as well.

"It has affected me a bit, not being able to play in the FA Cup, because it's not just the game, it's the preparation too. I might have to train on my own with the physio, just doing fitness work, while all the lads are preparing and working on the shape of the team before the game. Then the day after the match they might go swimming and I've got to do more work so it's a bit frustrating, but hopefully that won't be the case any more.

Stephen has enjoyed his loan spell and would welcome the chance to stay longer, adding, "It's been brilliant, miles better than playing reserve team football, and they're a great bunch of lads here. We're all a pretty similar age and a lot of us have similar interests so we got on really well straight away.

"The manager has spoken to me and I'd like to stay because it's obviously better than playing in the reserves, but it's really down to Man City and what they want at the moment."

In conclusion, the 20-year-old expects the U's to be pushing for promotion at the end of the season if we maintain our current form: "The standard of football in Division Three has been surprising really. There are a few good teams but if we keep playing as we can I think we're almost certain of promotion and we'll definitely be there or thereabouts."

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An edited version of this article was published in the programme for the FA Cup match against Millwall on Saturday 4th January 2003.

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