Nick Hegarty Interview

By: Jake Olley
Date: 04/04/2006

TOWN midfielder Nick Hegarty is currently on loan at Willenhall Town in the West Midlands, where Fishy reporter Jake Olley caught up with him for this revealing interview with one of the first team's lesser known players.

Nick, you're at loan to Willenhall at the minute. What are your first impressions and what were your main reasons for your loan move?

Since I've been at Willenhall I've really enjoyed myself. Everyone at the club is really nice and the club looks to have a bright future. Since Christmas, after the Carlisle game in which I came off the bench, I had not really played for a month or two due to injury and really wanted to get some games under my belt before the end of the season. Willenhall have recently gone through a tough period losing their manager, assistant and 12 players whilst top of the league around 6 weeks ago, and given the chance to go and help them out, get in the play-offs hopefully and play in a cup final, I jumped at the chance.

Are there any plans at the moment to make it permanent or is it just a one off to see how it goes?

This is just a one off. Just before Christmas I signed a 18 month contract with a year option so at the moment I'm just looking to try and get some experience, improve as a player and then come back and hopefully make an impact for Grimsby and hopefully help them in a League One campaign next year!!

Now onto the Mariners. You are regarded as one of the best youngsters at the club. In the summer you scored on your debut against Sheffield Wednesday in a friendly. Since then do you feel you've been given a good enough chance to make an impact and do you feel you deserve a chance?

In pre-season I was flying and was hoping to get a chance early in the season which I thought I deserved but when you see the team doing so well you can't really have any complaints. When I have got my chances off the bench I feel I've done well and nearly scored against Carlisle which would have probably made a lot of difference. I've just got to get back to playing, doing well again and improving and then hopefully get my chance which I'm desperate to take.

For Grimsby fans who don't know a lot about you, what would you say your main attributes are and how far do you feel you can make it in the game?

I'd probably say scoring and creating goals. I have a decent left foot and good pace. If anything I'd say my movement is probably my best attribute as I always get myself into positions to score, as people will have seen watching me play in the little time I have had in the first team, or in the reserves. I'd like to play as highly as I possibly could, I think I have a lot of potential but until I get a good run of games in the league I couldn't tell you what kind of career I hope to have, hopefully a successful one.

After breaking into the reserve side and becoming a regular the reserves' fortunes have taken a turn for the worse and have come under some criticism. Do you feel the reserve system is being run well and why do you feel they've failed to pick up good results and impress?

It’s been quite hard for the reserves this season but I'm not making excuses because the results we have achieved have been unacceptable. It’s been difficult because there isn't really a reserve team as such. The team this season has been made up a lot of the youth team, a lot of trialists and normally very few experienced pros. We have deserved more in a lot of the games but in football when you are on a losing run things just don't seem to go your way. Hopefully next year, if we get promotion we will have training sessions for just the reserves which we haven't had since the days of 2003 when Wilko was the reserve team coach.

After being at the club a while you have gone through the youth systems and reserve teams. What is your opinion on how the youth system is run and do you feel youngsters should be given more chances at the club?

Ha-ha, yeah I think there’s only Macca who's been here longer now! Working my way through has been good. Neil Woods is a top man and top coach. Since I came to Grimsby I have learnt so much and a lot of that is down to Woodsy. So many of the lads here are really good players and have been in and around the squad but have never really got their chance when I feel they should have. Hopefully Woodsy will keep producing quality youngsters and take Grimsby into the next few years with a good youth setup driving the club forward like most of the other clubs at all levels in England.

Who do you feel is the best up and coming youngster at the club and could be one to watch?

There are loads of good players at the club. The older lads like Miles Chamberlain and Paul Ashton should do really well for the club. Everyone knows about Danny North and Andy Taylor as they both can't stop scoring. One player who has been playing well this year is Luke Faulkes, he is a strong right back who, given a bit of time, could be a great player for the club. Also Matty Bird looks to have a great future. At the moment he is under 15 but has played and scored as a centre half in both the youth and reserve team this season. Definitely one for the future!

Who spends most time in front of the mirror?

Terry Barwick

Who’s the best trainer?

Andy Parkinson

Who's the worst trainer?

Michael Reddy

Who has the best dress sense?

Junior Mendes

Who has the worst dress sense?

JPK (footballers' wives) Kalala

Best taste in music?

Ciaran Toner

Worst taste in music?

Ben Futcher

The track played in dressing room before the game is...

Mixed

And finally who's the longest in the shower?

Gary 'Full Body' Cohen

We'd also like to take this chance to thank Nick Hegarty who took time out from his busy schedule to do this interview for Town fans

Add To Facebook

This site is by the fans, for the fans, and we will consider articles on any subject relating to the Mariners whether it be related to current news, a nostalgic look back in the past, a story about a player, a game or games in the past, something about Blundell Park or football in general. Click here to submit your article!

Related Stories

• Hegarty Loaned Out as 5 Trialists Come In
• Kevin Drinkell Interview
• Wear Your Shirt At Work!
• More Stories