6th April 2021
Interview conducted by Adam Holt
I have recently caught up with ex-Liverpool, Newport County & Barnet goalkeeper Jamie Stephens to talk about a plethora of topics, from the beginnings of his career in the Liverpool academy to the plans he has for the future. Check out his answers to my questions below, I hope you enjoy reading this Q&A!
Clubs: Forest Green Rovers (2006 - 2007), Swindon Town (2007 - 2010), Liverpool (2010 - 2013), Airbus UK (Loan, 2013), Newport County (2013 - 2015), Gloucester City (loan, 2014), Barnet (2015 - 2018), Northwood (2020).
Check out the Q&A below!
Who did you support growing up, and did you have a footballing idol? If so, why?
“My local club was Forest Green Rovers in the conference who I’d go watch quite often as a kid. So, I’d probably say they were the side I supported. I followed and always watched bigger sides on the tv but never had any affiliation with them really.”
“My idol was actually Gianluigi Buffon. I watched Juventus vs AC Milan in the champions league in 2003 and just loved his persona and how he came across. Before that I had keepers I watched and general players, but he was the guy that inspired me most to be a goalkeeper growing up.”
What would you say is the highlight of your playing career so far?
“This is pretty a hard question to answer! I’ve had some great memories and highlights. I’d probably say making my football league debut at the age of 19 for Newport. The club had just been promoted back into the football league for the first time in 25 years so to be 19, making my league debut in their first game back was pretty special. Winning that game was part of that too!”
Even though you did not make an appearance for the senior team, how great was the experience of being in Liverpool’s academy setup?
“It was brilliant. A really life changing experience throughout and one I am very proud of. I learnt so much and improved massively in all parts of my game and changed as a person too from those experiences. I had some world class coaches and players around me what pushed me to be better and think differently. I was lucky to play in some great teams against great teams at that age and train with the first team, be around that set up and see the standards in what it takes to be a top end professional footballer.”
How did your experience at Liverpool’s academy compare to your experiences at Forest Green and Swindon Town’s academies?
“I look back with great memories of all of them. Forest green was my local club growing up. I had some of my friends from school in my team, we were playing good football, learning the game a bit more technically.”
“Moving onto Swindon, it seemed a bit more serious now, starting out training 2-3 times a week and playing weekends, then into my scholarship training most days with school studies included, but also learning so much about the true day to days of football. Doing jobs, cleaning boots, seeing the first team players up close and learning what it’s like to have structure of a training week. Again, some really top coaches and the standards within the team were very high and helped push me towards my move to Liverpool.”
“There were differences as I was different ages as I moved along, but Liverpool become very much serious. A real career path had been set a little more turning professional there, but all the principles of trying to enjoy my football and improve remained the same.”
Who has been your favourite manager to play for throughout your career so far and why?
“This is again a really tough question. I’ve never really not enjoyed playing under any managers. I’ve tried to take away something from each of them and see the positives from each. It’s a hard call as Martin Allen was and is a superb bloke. He really is a top top person who has helped throughout my career, but I’m going to say Justin Edinburgh. I was incredibly sad and heartbroken when I first read the news. A man who gave me my debut in the league. A real people’s person. He managed to fill me with confidence when I needed it, talk to me when I was having a bad time or out the side and keep spirits high. But not just the football side of things. He’d ring in the summer, see how things were. Ask questions throughout which he genuinely was interested in knowing the answers to and building relationships with everyone. He will is missed and will be forever missed by many.”
How much did you enjoy your time at Barnet, and how did it feel to leave the club in 2018?
"I absolutely loved my time at Barnet. I still love checking up on the club and will always keep my eye out on what’s happening there. The people again made this place so special to me. I played some of my best football here due to the people around me. Fans, teammates and the staff were a pleasure to deal with. It truly was a great time. Sadly, my body didn’t always hold up, what is the only real downside I found."
“I was pretty upset but fully understood leaving. I needed to get away from football for my health. I was mainly upset that I wasn’t able to try and help the lads to stay in the league.”
What would you say was the biggest challenge of your football career to date?
“There’s been a lot of challenges throughout. Football is a rollercoaster ride in ways. Lots of highs and lots of lows. It’s being able to deal with those lows and challenges to get back to the highs as much as possible.”
“I’d probably say coming back from an Injury whilst at Newport was one of the biggest challenges. A long-term injury to my quad and an operation was quite daunting. It was a long road and lots of work but getting back, playing in the league and doing well really.”
What has been the biggest lesson that you have learnt in your career so far?
“Football has taught me so many things. Life skills, personal skills, but one thing I remembered that stuck with me was always: When things are going well, never get too high, but when things are going badly, try not to get too low. Try and find that happy medium ideally. Enjoy the good times, appreciate the bad ones and learn from them. It’s a short career. You see amazing players, injury or something happens and it all ends. It’s just to enjoy the ride of sport because it really goes up and down and could end at any moment.”
Finally, do you have any plans at present to get back to playing anytime soon?
“This is a tough one. Something I haven’t discussed that much openly other than with family and friends. In honesty, I don’t fully know. I may go back and play at some level. Be it professionally if my body and mind allow me, be it semi-professional or just down the park with my friends. I love some parts of football. It’s given me so much and I would love to give back and have that enjoyment again. It would need to be right for myself and some factors would need to be in favour for it, but I’m not going to say I won’t one day return. So, let’s see!”
I hope you enjoyed this Q&A, keep an eye out for more coming soon!
Clubs: Forest Green Rovers (2006 - 2007), Swindon Town (2007 - 2010), Liverpool (2010 - 2013), Airbus UK (Loan, 2013), Newport County (2013 - 2015), Gloucester City (loan, 2014), Barnet (2015 - 2018), Northwood (2020).
Check out the Q&A below!
Who did you support growing up, and did you have a footballing idol? If so, why?
“My local club was Forest Green Rovers in the conference who I’d go watch quite often as a kid. So, I’d probably say they were the side I supported. I followed and always watched bigger sides on the tv but never had any affiliation with them really.”
“My idol was actually Gianluigi Buffon. I watched Juventus vs AC Milan in the champions league in 2003 and just loved his persona and how he came across. Before that I had keepers I watched and general players, but he was the guy that inspired me most to be a goalkeeper growing up.”
What would you say is the highlight of your playing career so far?
“This is pretty a hard question to answer! I’ve had some great memories and highlights. I’d probably say making my football league debut at the age of 19 for Newport. The club had just been promoted back into the football league for the first time in 25 years so to be 19, making my league debut in their first game back was pretty special. Winning that game was part of that too!”
Even though you did not make an appearance for the senior team, how great was the experience of being in Liverpool’s academy setup?
“It was brilliant. A really life changing experience throughout and one I am very proud of. I learnt so much and improved massively in all parts of my game and changed as a person too from those experiences. I had some world class coaches and players around me what pushed me to be better and think differently. I was lucky to play in some great teams against great teams at that age and train with the first team, be around that set up and see the standards in what it takes to be a top end professional footballer.”
How did your experience at Liverpool’s academy compare to your experiences at Forest Green and Swindon Town’s academies?
“I look back with great memories of all of them. Forest green was my local club growing up. I had some of my friends from school in my team, we were playing good football, learning the game a bit more technically.”
“Moving onto Swindon, it seemed a bit more serious now, starting out training 2-3 times a week and playing weekends, then into my scholarship training most days with school studies included, but also learning so much about the true day to days of football. Doing jobs, cleaning boots, seeing the first team players up close and learning what it’s like to have structure of a training week. Again, some really top coaches and the standards within the team were very high and helped push me towards my move to Liverpool.”
“There were differences as I was different ages as I moved along, but Liverpool become very much serious. A real career path had been set a little more turning professional there, but all the principles of trying to enjoy my football and improve remained the same.”
Who has been your favourite manager to play for throughout your career so far and why?
“This is again a really tough question. I’ve never really not enjoyed playing under any managers. I’ve tried to take away something from each of them and see the positives from each. It’s a hard call as Martin Allen was and is a superb bloke. He really is a top top person who has helped throughout my career, but I’m going to say Justin Edinburgh. I was incredibly sad and heartbroken when I first read the news. A man who gave me my debut in the league. A real people’s person. He managed to fill me with confidence when I needed it, talk to me when I was having a bad time or out the side and keep spirits high. But not just the football side of things. He’d ring in the summer, see how things were. Ask questions throughout which he genuinely was interested in knowing the answers to and building relationships with everyone. He will is missed and will be forever missed by many.”
How much did you enjoy your time at Barnet, and how did it feel to leave the club in 2018?
"I absolutely loved my time at Barnet. I still love checking up on the club and will always keep my eye out on what’s happening there. The people again made this place so special to me. I played some of my best football here due to the people around me. Fans, teammates and the staff were a pleasure to deal with. It truly was a great time. Sadly, my body didn’t always hold up, what is the only real downside I found."
“I was pretty upset but fully understood leaving. I needed to get away from football for my health. I was mainly upset that I wasn’t able to try and help the lads to stay in the league.”
What would you say was the biggest challenge of your football career to date?
“There’s been a lot of challenges throughout. Football is a rollercoaster ride in ways. Lots of highs and lots of lows. It’s being able to deal with those lows and challenges to get back to the highs as much as possible.”
“I’d probably say coming back from an Injury whilst at Newport was one of the biggest challenges. A long-term injury to my quad and an operation was quite daunting. It was a long road and lots of work but getting back, playing in the league and doing well really.”
What has been the biggest lesson that you have learnt in your career so far?
“Football has taught me so many things. Life skills, personal skills, but one thing I remembered that stuck with me was always: When things are going well, never get too high, but when things are going badly, try not to get too low. Try and find that happy medium ideally. Enjoy the good times, appreciate the bad ones and learn from them. It’s a short career. You see amazing players, injury or something happens and it all ends. It’s just to enjoy the ride of sport because it really goes up and down and could end at any moment.”
Finally, do you have any plans at present to get back to playing anytime soon?
“This is a tough one. Something I haven’t discussed that much openly other than with family and friends. In honesty, I don’t fully know. I may go back and play at some level. Be it professionally if my body and mind allow me, be it semi-professional or just down the park with my friends. I love some parts of football. It’s given me so much and I would love to give back and have that enjoyment again. It would need to be right for myself and some factors would need to be in favour for it, but I’m not going to say I won’t one day return. So, let’s see!”
I hope you enjoyed this Q&A, keep an eye out for more coming soon!