Blog
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Jarrod Ward - Hey Jay Ray here, my turn is up for the Blog. Been a long time coming. Now I’ll clear something up, people always ask me why I’m called Jay Ray. Well when I first started at New Brighton 5 years ago, Ben May started calling me it and it just stuck. Don’t really know where he got it from though. Now there was a smear campaign against me a couple of years ago when Shaun Creek tried to bring in the ‘Gay Ray’ call. He is actually due back soon so if he try’s to start it up again please remind him to respect his elders, and to grow the f**k up! Also if he does try that smear campaign again he can call me Jarrod.
In the time I’ve been with the club there has been a lot of comings and fewer goings in the senior team, which sort of shows how enjoyable playing at Brighton is. The other thing interesting thing about this is the changing room lay out. I think I’ve been sitting next to Moley for about 5 years now and we have both become fiercely protective of our area of the shed. But it’s not just our space that’s fiercely protected, everyone else commands there own little part of the shed. We’ve sort of had the same guy’s around us as well once they get established in the area. It’s always interesting when someone new joins and they try and steal one of the established player’s chairs. The way Moley and I do it if someone sits in our seat is just tell them that it’s taken even if one of us isn’t there. Other players just move the bag down the bench where there’s no one sitting. It always takes a good few weeks until they find there own little spot in the shed. While I’m talking about changing room etiquette, don’t shower in your undies! We had an old senior prop in the changing shed after a match last year and he just about had a heart attack when he saw this behaviour! On the season to date, it’s been an amazing team effort winning the first round. I don’t think I’ve ever won this many games in a row and I’m keen to see this continuing. JK said to me after winning the first round it’s been a long time coming’ and he’s right. Little thing’s like that I won’t forget. I’m also glad I won the first round with so many boy’s that I’ve been playing with or known at Brighton (including management and supporters) for a long time, just makes it much more special to me. It’s also special sharing it with the new young guys who are just starting at New Brighton. Pleasing things are the boys are working hard for each other and finally putting it together week in and week out. There’s a great feeling amongst the boys as well and self belief is on a high. But in saying this we still have to work hard and push ourselves at trainings to keep each other honest. I’d love for us to keep going the way we are and push more of our younger players into a chance of representative football. Hopefully with the way we are playing a lot more of our players will get noticed and the chance to represent Canterbury team’s this season. |