Firstly, thank you to everyone who has got in touch
to say how much you enjoyed the first part of the Big Interview with Gruff John.
It’s amongst the best feedback I’ve had with regards to the blog and it was
interesting to see former players and managers tweeting negative thoughts on Gruff
and the interview over the past few days. I think it also says a lot about how
well respected he is in local circles.
The only thing I asked Gruff to do when carrying
the interview out was to go into as much detail as possible and I’d like to
thank him for taking the time to do just this. I hope you enjoy reading this second
and final part of our interview……..
Did you know Huw before he joined us in January and
what do you think he brings to the management team?
Gruff: “I've played against his sides in the past and they've always
been tough games so I was excited when I heard he was joining the management
team. His experience instantly showed in his training sessions and there's been
more focus on shape and discipline within positions since he's come in. As a
defender I've enjoyed his focus on shape and aggression against opposition.
He's got stuck in with the lads right from the first training session which is
great. From the training sessions and games we've had over the last couple of
months it's obvious that the management team all gel together really well,
which obviously is positive for the players to see.”
What are your three favourite matches for
Caernarfon Town and why?
Gruff: “The first game of the season in TNS has to be one. It was my
first game for the Cofis and I was excited and a little bit nervous to be in
the starting eleven against arguably the best team in the league. I had a chat
with Eards before the game and I knew what my job was. We played a good game
and were unlucky to come away without a point. I learned a lot from this game
to take forward for the rest of the season. The second has to be the home game
against TNS, but winning this time. It was a massive team performance and every
player gave their all. The celebrations with the Cofi Army at the end was also
memorable. The third game has to be when I scored my first goal of the season
against Barry Town at the Oval. I was frustrated after giving a penalty away
but knew I had to make up for it, which is what I did by scoring my first goal
in front of the Cofi Army to make it 2-1. I think that this gave us the extra
push to score the other goals and win the game 4-1.”
Which one match would you prefer to forget as a
Caernarfon Town player?
Gruff: “The game I would like to forget is the away game against Cardiff
Met. We weren't getting any decisions off the ref and we were getting
frustrated all over the pitch. I then received a red card, which I still think
was the wrong decision by the ref and a yellow card at a push! And to top it
off we lost.”
Having made the step up from the Cymru Alliance to
the Cymru Premier, what do you think are the main differences between the leagues?
Gruff: “One of the main differences are the grounds/pitches. Obviously
in this league there are more 4G pitches and better facilities around the
grounds for the players and the supporters. Another difference is the speed and
fitness within the game which took some time to get used to! The preparations
with tactics and stats before games is a difference that I've enjoyed this
season. This makes a huge difference on the pitch and I can say that it makes a
difference to my overall game and enables me to improve my game.”
Who do you think is the side's
unsung hero?
Gruff: “I'd have to go with Ryan Williams. Every game he does his job
and does it well. He's brilliant and calm on the ball and reads the game well.
Over the last part of the season we developed a good partnership at centre
half. We are definitely getting used to playing with each other and the Welsh
'Cofi communication' works well!”
Name a starting eleven, and two
subs, of the best players you've played alongside in your career thus
far?
Gruff: “GK - Richard Harvey, he was there when I started with Porthmadog
and helped me a lot as a defender with his experience and he's a legend! RB -
Adam Hughes, I played with him from when we were young lads in Bethel to
u18s at Caernarfon and he's always been a good player but he's been very
unlucky with injuries so has never had a chance in the higher leagues
unfortunately. CB - Iddon Price, a very quick and solid defender. I played
alongside him many times with Port and not many strikers got passed. CB - Ryan
Williams, like I said in the earlier question he's a very calm and clever
player, I look forward to having more games alongside him at the centre of
defence. LB - Gwion Dafydd Williams, I used to play with him at Bangor
and Bethel and he had a brilliant left foot on him. He had no fear in games and
would go through anything in front of him. CDM - Dion Donohue, he just makes it
look so easy and somehow has more space than anyone else on the pitch, yes he's
a hothead but when he plays at the top of his game there's no stopping him. CM
- Ifan Emlyn, I played with him last season for the first time and I just
thought that his passing ability with that left foot of his was sublime and
just needs some experience behind him to be a top player. CM - Leo Smith, like
we all know he's a class act and his quality on the ball with his dribbling
ability and vision is superb. He has to be up there with the best I've ever
played with. CAM - Alex Jones, the best first touch from players I've played
with and was very skilful, I think he had a brief period at Caernarfon but I
think he plays futsal by now. I'd love it if he came back to play. ST - Jamie McDaid, I've
played with Jamie
in around eight different teams! He was there when I played
for Wales and Welsh schools and has always been a part of the teams I've had
success with, very good on the ball and a natural finisher. ST -
Darren Thomas, I played with Daz at Port for a while and I thought he would
have maybe slowed down a bit when I came to Caernarfon, but he's still as fast
and sharp as he was and scores screamers for fun, the most naturally gifted
player I've played with. Sub
- Carl Owen, when I started at
Port he was the no.9 there and he was such a good finisher, I learned a few
times in training that I had to battle hard with him to have any chance of
getting the ball. Sub - Grahame Austin, a powerful and commanding
defender. Played with him at Porthmadog and I always looked up to him as a
young lad. He was strong in the air and was always vocal on the pitch which
helped me a lot when starting with Port.”
Who has the best dress sense in the
Caernarfon Town dressing room?
Gruff: “I'll
have to go with Leo Smith, he always turns up to trainings or games in
different and new shoes and I always like them, it's just a shame he's got
size 4 feet! He always looks good on a night out as well, makes sure
everything's perfect and that all the lads smell good before we go anywhere
with his crazy, massive selection of aftershaves!”
Who has the worst dress sense in the dressing
room?
Gruff: “It's
between Brads and Sammy. I think Brads has rips in everything he wears, I don't
understand why he doesn't wear normal jeans. I haven't actually seen
enough of Sammy to say for definite but I'm not a big fan of the sliders he
wears in the showers and he does like some flashy stuff so I'm expecting the
worst with him!”
What’s your favourite film?
Gruff: “I have
a few, I enjoy thrillers but with some comedy in there as well! I'd probably
say that the The Dark Knight is my favourite just because Heath Ledger's
performance as the Joker is so good. I also enjoy watching stuff like Shutter
island, Law abiding citizen and The Green Mile and some comedies like
Anchorman and Step Brothers. So as you can probably tell I enjoy
watching movies but yeah, I'll go with The Dark Knight as my favourite!”
Other than the Oval, which is the best ground
in the Cymru Premier League and which is the best in the Cymru Premier League?
Gruff:
“The best ground that I went to this season and the best day out I've had would
probably be Camarthen. I'd never played there before and the 4G was actually
quite nice to play on. I was obviously a bit disapointed to be
starting on the bench but I came on in the last twenty minutes and we were
down to ten men, made a saving headed
clearence that started the attack for the last minute winner from Cai
Jones. I remember that I was buzzing in the clubhouse after and there was a
good feeling after the match with the lads over a curry and a pint!”
Who has been your hardest opponent, both
player and team?
Gruff:
“We've had a lot o tough games this season. Newtown and Connahs Quay away
were both tough games with bad results but my toughest game
would have to be my first league game against TNS. Like I said in a
previous question I was nervous and excited at the same time but at the
end of the game I was absolutely knackered, physically and mentally. I had
to be so focused throughout the game and the biggest reason for this was Jamie
Mullen. I had watched clips of him and knew he was a skilful, quick and a punishing
attacker so I had to be on the top of my game. I'll be the first to admit that
at times in that game I had no idea where he was, his movement and pace was
unbelievable. I did my best to stop him from punishing us and I believe I succeeded
for most of the game but I knew after that game that I had a lot to work
on and a lot to learn to play against this type of player from week to
week. It definitely made me more determined to improve and develop for the
Welsh Prem but it was a tough first test.”
Grass pitches or 4G, and why?
Gruff: “Grass
pitch all day for me! I always look forward even more to our home games
knowing that we play on the Oval, the pitch always looks brilliant and I feel
playing on a grass pitch brings more drama with it, with the weather and other
things affecting the pitch. It’s always nice to get a good tackle in and being
covered in mud and not cuts and burns.”
Welsh Cup or Cymru Premier League, and why?
Gruff: “I enjoy
a good cup run so it'll have to be the Welsh Cup. There's so much history
that goes with the cup and I've always enjoyed playing in it. The cup brings an
excitement with it and no matter who your opponent is, it's always going to be
a tough game. Every game can be different and it challenges our team's ability
to play against different styles of play which I enjoy being part
of. We've had a good run in the cup this season and the last round
was a great game against Cefn Druids where we showed what we are all
about in the second half. I don't think we know yet what's happening with
the Welsh Cup this year but I do feel we could have gone all the way with
the performances we've had in the competition so far.”
You’re manager of Caernarfon Town’s five a
side team for the day. Who would you choose in the team?
Gruff: “Tough
choices here because the quality in the squad is so high. I'd put Rambo in
goal with Fish a close second (he thinks he's a great keeper in training
at times!). I'd have Nathan Craig at the back - big tackles, good passing and
could strike it from anywhere. I'd have Ryan Wills and Leo Carlos in the middle
- quality on the ball, skilful, good passing and understand each other well
with the lovely bond they've got. I'd put Daz up top - skilful, quick,
gets a tackle in when needed and a top quality finisher!”
And finally, do you have a message for the
Cofi Army?
Gruff:
“I'd like to take this opportunity to thank all of the fans for the great
support we've had this season. There have been some games were that extra
support we've got as a club has pushed the lads to get the results we needed!
Also, as it was my first season with the Cofis I want to thank all the fans for
the welcome I've had and that I felt a part of the club straight away when it
was announced that I had signed. That meant a lot and made it so much easier to
get going. I've enjoyed seeing some of the fans around Town and
having a chat with them and finding out what they think of the games
and performances. I know a lot of the fans and it feels good to be a part of
this club again.
It's
a tough time we're in at the moment and our health is the most important thing,
I can only hope that we get through this period as soon as possible so we can
all get back to our normal lives and enjoy our football down at the Oval again
as the Cofi Army sing in the background.
So, stay safe
and thank you for all the support! Diolch yn fawr a welai chi gyd yn
fuan!”
