Age really is just a number to Wes Hoolahan, who admits to still feeling the same level of motivation every day to produce his best as he did at the beginning of his career.
The 38-year old showed his class and vast 20-year experience at the weekend, which included a stereotypical Hoolahan goal to prove that there’s still a burning feeling of more to come for the little midfield magician.
Hoolahan commented: “I love playing. I love training. Since seven or eight years of age I’ve been playing football, so I still enjoy it. I enjoy being out there with the younger lads running around. I’ve been resting up, eating right, working hard to prepare for Christmas periods and Boxing Day games for the last 20 years. I think most players look forward to playing in these games.
“The desire is still in me, and until that desire to wake up and train or play goes that’s when I’ll consider the next step. But at the moment I still want to get up and help the team out as much as I can. I obviously can’t run around like I used to or recover as quickly but it’s about managing myself, and I have to say Bonz and Mikey the physio have looked after me.
“It’s still all really about getting me out there on a Saturday and performing to the best of my abilities.”
The former Irish international’s second goal in amber and black marked the start of an inspired second half comeback at the Abbey on Saturday, in what Hoolahan described as a massive three points over Leyton Orient.
“It was a nice ball into me from Kyle playing it into me in a good area, and luckily enough it’s got into the bottom corner. It’s gone through the defender’s legs, so I kind of disguised it to go there and it went in the near corner. It was a nice feeling to hit the back of the net.
“It’s also very pleasing (to assist goals), and you know if you give Mulls [Paul Mullin] a chance or two you know he’s going to finish it, he’s in great form this season and hopefully that continues for us.
“It was a great win. We’d all had a few words at half time and came out second half, showed what we were all about, moved the ball well and created a lot of chances. We deservedly went 2-1 in front and in the end you saw the lads digging in. So it was a massive three points and couldn’t have come at a better time.
He continued: “It’s important this time of year with a lot of games creeping up thick and fast, and it gives you a chance with a couple of wins a draw here and there to move you right up the table.
“We’ve got a great chance to get going again. It’s been a crazy few months, but it’s been brilliant and I’m enjoying every minute of it. The boys here are fantastic, Bonz has been great with me and long may that continue.
“I came here to be at the top end of the table, be around the play-off positions pushing towards that top three and so far it’s going well.”
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