Jon Brady

On the score sheet in last Tuesday night's 1-1 draw at home to Kidderminster, Jon Brady shares his thoughts on a welcome goal and the season so far.

Jon rose at the far post to nod home a Courtney Pitt corner and he admits, "I enjoyed the goal and I don't score that many headers - just look at the size of me! - but it was quite an important goal and I was just disappointed we didn't hold the lead.

"Hopefully I can chip in with a few more, and it was a shame I couldn't have got a second straight afterwards - I think the guy got his curly toenail to that shot - but I'd like to think I could get another one today against one of my old clubs, Stevenage."

United had dominated most of the game and never really looked troubled by fellow strugglers Kidderminster, so it was disappointing to be denied the first win of the season by their late, late equaliser.

"At the end of the day it was just disappointing," Jon agrees. "We didn't even look like conceding this time and then in the 89th minute the guy pulls one out of the bag and we're 1-1, so that was the disappointing thing.

"But we have to take the positives out of it. We had been very poor in a few games before this but on Tuesday we were camped in their half, we had a lot of possession and we had a lot more shots on target, so you have to take the positives out of it and not dwell on the negatives.

"I think with the organisation and the shape that we've got, things are starting to look a bit more solid and all we can do it keep working on it in training and then try to take it out onto the pitch."

Will the players take confidence from Tuesday's performance? "Everyone, including myself, started to perform and give the team what we know we can give the team," responds United's Australian winger. "I think it's been coming but finally we proved it on the pitch the other night and therefore we've got to go out and do it consistently.

"If we win against Stevenage today we're definitely starting to turn the corner. With or without a manager we're the only ones who can really affect it out on the pitch, so hopefully we can do it today and get our first win."

Chairman Lee Power and former U's manager Chris Turner have been in charge of training for the last fortnight since Rob Newman was sacked, and Jon was asked about what has changed.

"I wouldn't say they've brought in new ideas; it's very organised and very simplified so everyone knows their jobs inside and out, and if someone's not doing it then they'll be taken off and someone else will come in and take their place. That's been stated and that's how it's going to be.

"The Chairman is a realist. He's not in the role for the long-term, he's just there to help out at the moment, so the best thing he's done is simplified it and got the lads working really hard.

"I don't think you can ask much more that that from him at the moment. I think he's done a great job doing what he's doing with Chris Turner.

"Rob and Tony were great blokes. They tried to do what they tried to do, they saw a different formation at times and I wouldn't say it was wrong or right, it was just what they thought was right at the time and it didn't really work out as you can see.

"But now, with a bit more organisation and the fact that we've gone to a simplified 4-4-2, the players know their roles and responsibilities so therefore we should go out on the pitch and do a decent job."

On a personal note, 31-year-old Brady adds, "It's been a lot better in the last couple of games to be playing in the one position. I've played in the centre of midfield, at wing-back and in behind the strikers this season, but to be fair my position is right midfield and there you know your role and responsibilities.

"If you're not doing your job someone else will come in and do it. Everyone knows their role in the team and no one has any excuses."

There has been lots of speculation about the likely identity of the next manager, with Halifax boss Chris Wilder strongly linked earlier this week, and Brady commented, "I know Chrissy Wilder well, I did my UEFA 'B' coaching licence with him a few years ago and I was looking forward to seeing him, but we just get on with our jobs.

"It's like any other job, if your boss isn't there you just get on with it and do the best you can, and that's what we've been doing.

"All we can think about is making a positive impression on the new manager, whoever he is, and doing our best, which you should always do. All professional footballers want to do their best in every game and at the moment we just have to get on and do our jobs."

With three games in seven days and the Chairman due to get married on Monday and go abroad on his honeymoon, Jon hopes the managerial appointment comes soon: "I think it's important we make an appointment soon because he needs to see us play and get to know his players, but in the meantime we need to work hard and be as positive as we can be."

Twice promoted from the Conference with Rushden and Chester City, Jon is looking forward to playing another former club Stevenage today and hopes we can record the first win of the season.

"I want to think we can get our first win of the season. I've heard they're a good attacking team but we've shored up the defence, and attacking-wise we started to show what we can do on Tuesday night."

It is the third consecutive game against one of the clubs near the bottom of the table, but Jon admits he is surprised at the start Stevenage have made to the season.

"Their new manager Mark Stimson went there from Grays and they're up near the top, but at Stevenage he's inherited a team that Graham Westley did well with.

"I'm not a lover of Graham Westley," he continues, "but he does well at getting the best out of players, and now they have a new manager it does take time. But it shows he must have had a very good squad at Grays, because they're still up there with not many new signings, whereas it takes time to settle into a new club and he might not even know his best team at the moment."

The supporters on Tuesday night were lifted by the high tempo attacking performance before them, and Jon, who joined the U's from Hereford early this January, feels the fans are owed more of the same.

"They've had to cop a lot of poor play from us," he admits. "They've vented their frustration but, fair play to them, when we've done well like we did on Tuesday night they enjoyed it and they got behind us.

"They shouldn't have to accept what we've dished out so hopefully we can do more of the same for them."

My favourite game:
"It was playing for Rushden in the third round of the F.A. Cup at Sheffield United. I scored a 40-yarder against Simon Tracey in a really great game, we drew 1-1 and took them to a replay at home, which was another good game. We took them to 1-1 in extra-time and it was one of the best games I've ever played in my life, but I took the sixth penalty and drilled it straight down the middle and Simon Tracey saved it, and Marcus Bent stepped up and scored the winner. But the chairman took us to New York for five days afterwards."

Andrea Thrussell

*This interview was first published in the programme for the match against Stevenage on 16th September, 2006.

Previous Featured Players:
14Sep06: Mark Peters
11Sep06: Jordan Collins (scholar)

Last season's Featured Players:
16May06: Jon Brady
04May06: Tommy Jaszczun
26Apr06: David Bridges
20Apr06: Scott Howie
13Apr06: Craig Westcarr
22Mar06: Andy Duncan
15Mar06: David Bridges
01Feb06: David Chick
08Dec05: Michael Morrison
29Nov05: Ritchie Hanlon
25Oct05: Stephen Smith
05Oct05: Fola Onibuje
29Sep05: Mark Peters

15May05: Your Players of the Year 2004/05

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