Interview With Darel Russell

It is fair to say that football in the USA is improving and, although is still some distance away from that of the Premier League, still provides some decent matches while showcasing some great talent.

There have been a few ex-Norwich City players ply their trade over this side of the pond, with Darren Huckerby probably the name most City fans will instantly go to. However north of the border at Toronto FC you will find a bevvy of ex City players with their Assistant Coach being Jim Brennan and their playing staff including Rob Earnshaw and Darel Russell.

Recently I had the wonderful opportunity to put some questions to Darel Russell about his time in Norfolk. This is what he had to say:    

JB: In your first stay at Norwich you racked up over 100 appearances in six seasons having started in the youth team. How good was it to see the current Norwich Youth team beat Chelsea in last seasons final?

DR: It was fantastic to see that happen. I believe that Norwich has had one of the best youth systems for years and the was largely down to the master art of Gordon Bennett and the time and effort he put in to make it one of the best. His grounding and base work has continued and been improved upon over the last few years and has been rewarded with the youth cup. Although I didn’t get to see the game I followed on twitter and was ecstatic for the club and the boys. 

JB: While in that Youth system was there a player for Norwich you looked up to, or admired?

DR: I guess I respected all the pros, but cleaning Mike Milligans boots making him teas and cleaning his bath everyday helped ground and humble me and inspire me to not do it anymore and work hard so someone would do them things for me haha.

JB: In both your stays with Norwich you worked under several Managers. Who would you say was the man you really liked working with?

DR: I really enjoyed working with Bruce Rioch as he really was the one who brought me through and played me and trusted me as a young player. And with Paul Lambert I had a great time working with him as a manager, and he played the same position as me. In the short time I worked with him I developed a new part of my game and learned a lot from him which I am grateful.

JB: The two stays at Norwich were sandwiched between time at Stoke. How hard was it to leave Norwich for Stoke? And what kind of reaction did you get on your return to Carrow Road in a Stoke shirt the following March?

DR: Leaving at the time was an easy choice as I was kinda forced out by the way I was being treated by the club. I am not a person to just accept things and tick along, I wanted to keep bettering myself. So at the time of leaving it was the best decision for me as a young player trying to make his way in the game. In regards to coming back, the Norwich fans have always been great to me I think they know I give my all who ever I play for and they were fine. You always expect a little stick but its all football banter in the end. Part of the pantomime of football. 

JB) Norwich were promoted to the Premiership at the end of that season. Do you regret not being able  to stay on at City?

DR: As much as it would have been great to be a part of that, where my career path would have gone nobody will know. I could have thrived or fallen into the black hole of football. I made the right decision at the time and was pleased to see the team promoted and even did a little part to help that process from afar against West Brom. 

JB) You did come back to Norwich in 2007 and a poor season was followed by a disastrous one and City were relegated in 2009. How devastating was this for the team and you as a player?

DR: It was a terrible point in my career. First of all I had never been relegated up until that point which was a major low in my career and after a good first season return personally. I felt I was wasted and messed about position ally at the peak of my career by playing me a forward. 

JB: You never did actually ply your talents in the English Premiership, mostly because the years you were at City were not the best for the Canaries. How do you feel about your old club about to start their third consecutive season in the top flight?

DR: That will always be a disappointment not playing in the Prem. I consider it my biggest failure as I believe I could have, and always wanted to test myself against the best. But I am truly pleased that they have a real chance of establishing themselves and keeping in there. This I think will be the toughest season as the expectations of the fans and the club are higher than previous years. 

JB: Reports at the time were that you decided to leave Norwich and rejected a contract. Is this true and if so do you regret that or was it time to move on?

DR: I never rejected a contract; when my agent went to accept the contract he was told that there was no contract on the table to sign anymore. It was the second time that that had happened to me in two different spell at Norwich. I don’t take it personally that’s football or business as they call it. 

JB: This year you signed for Toronto FC of Major League Soccer in the USA. There you rejoined ex City players Rob Earnshaw and your now Assistant Coach Jim Brennan. Do you three ever talk about your days in Norfolk?

DR: Yeah on occasion we talk about our times and ex players. Norwich is not any easy place to forget.
JB: If Toronto were to come to East Anglia who would you like to see again and who would you hate to play against? 

DR: I would love to see the best PA in the world Val Lemon. She keeps that club running believe me. Haha, but in terms of players I get to see all the old faces from time to time. I guess though I would love to see the fans and I loved playing at Carrow Rd. That field feels like home I know the dimensions, cut of the grass and surroundings like the back of my hand. 

JB; Thank you for taking time to answering these questions for the Norwich City fans. Is there anything else you’d like to say to the fans and people of Norwich?

DR: I’d like to just say thanks to the club and the fans for all their support and love over the years. Norwich and Norfolk will always be my second home in the UK. I still have many friends and interests in the city so always come back from time to time. Wish you all the best with the coming season. 
Lots of Love Rust

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