Richard Smallwood brings plenty of experience to Bristol Rovers' dressing room and is looking forward to getting off to a fast start in the blue-and-white quarters.
The 35-year-old has almost 600 senior appearances to his name and has claimed four promotions in his career, going up with Rotherham United, Blackburn Rovers, Hull City and Bradford City.
You only have to go back to last season for his previous promotion, with the midfielder playing 43 times as the Bantams returned to Sky Bet League One with a third-place finish.
Now, he's back with the Head Coach who led him to his first. Steve Evans was in charge when the Millers were promoted to the Championship via the playoffs, with Smallwood in the midfield. Playing for a southern team for the first time, he is excited for the challenge ahead and is looking forward to experiencing the atmosphere at The Memorial Stadium.
So, first of all Richie, welcome to Bristol Rovers Football Club. How does it feel to be here?
“I’m really excited to get started. It’s a great setup and the lads have been very welcoming, as have the management staff and I’m just pleased to get it done and hopefully get off to a flying start.”
You’re the last signing on transfer deadline day. Have you ever been involved in a deadline day move so late before?
“No, I don’t think I have, certainly not that late. Maybe one’s dragged into there, but never that late, no. I was sweating a little bit, as to whether it was going to be able to be done in time and whether the deal sheet was submitted, but thankfully it all was and it all worked out."
Plenty of clubs in your career so far. What made you know that Bristol Rovers was the right step in your career?
“I think everyone knows it’s a big club for this level. Obviously, they had aspirations at the start of the season to be firing at the top end of the table, but for whatever reasons, it hasn’t worked out. But the recent weeks have obviously been promising, and the manager’s brought some players in to come in and help the group and hopefully that can give a positive lift and carry on the good form.”
You spoke about the manager there. You’ve got a previous relationship with him, how big was he in your decision to come here?
“Massive. He’s the one who first rang me and said would you like to come. I just immediately said yeah. It’s the first time working with Steve for obviously a number of years now, but I know what he’s all about. I know how he works and operates, and I know with this group of players and the quality that it has got, he can do very well for them.”
What were your takeaways from your time together previously at Rotherham?
“I’ve only got good things. We had a lot of success at Rotherham, we obviously promoted. That was a second promotion for Rotherham in a row. We were in the Championship, and obviously for Rotherham at the time, it was obviously a massive jump, but we did the unthinkable and managed to stay up.
“Twice in a row, which is a huge achievement, considering the finances that the Championship has nowadays and even back then it was quite a lot. Certainly, different to Rotherham at the time and just positive memories and obviously lots of success.”
You spoke about the promotion there. Can you remember the penalty like it was yesterday?
“Yeah, absolutely. That’ll never go away. I remember walking up to the ball now and it wasn’t to win it, obviously the goalkeeper made a save after, but it was the fifth penalty, so a lot of people see it as that. Yeah, it’s gone down well over recent years.”
Alongside Rotherham, Blackburn and Hull City there, also promotions. What takes a successful dressing room?
“I think just doing the basics right. Firstly, obviously working hard and just doing the basics right and obviously when you come down the leagues, obviously at Bradford.
“Even at Hull in League One, it was a lot of set plays, which obviously this league is still all about, and they are the fine margins. If you go at them in both boxes and good at the basics, and run hard and run fast, you’ll get results and that’s just a proven fact in, not just this league, more so this league, but for other leagues as well.”
You’ve had plenty of clubs, but this is the first down south. Is this going to be slightly different for you?
“Yeah, obviously it’s the first one down south, but the first half of the season I was at Tranmere, which was obviously still far away from home. You’ve just got to embrace it, you’ve got to embrace these challenges in a football career, and it can take you anywhere at any moment.
“You’ve got to be ready and willing and obviously your family has got to be understanding and you’ve got to do what works for you and your family. That’s what I’ve done and I’m looking forward to coming down here and enjoying it and obviously getting stuck in.”
Before the move, was there any former Rovers players that you spoke to, to see what it was like?
“No, I didn’t really get the chance. It all happened a bit quick and I’ve not known many players who have played here, to be honest. Obviously, George Friend was here recently, I played with him at Middlesbrough.
“Obviously, Josh [McEachran] is here, I’ve just caught up with Josh after 12-13 years, whatever it was. We just kids at Middlesbrough. I’m sure I’ll get in touch with them as and when, but I’ve only ever got good things to say because it’s been great since I’ve been here.”
And for the fans that are going to see you, what type of player are you? Both in the dressing room and on the pitch?
“I'm a combative midfielder, more defensive minded like a free-flowing number eight or an attacking number six. Go forward and create and obviously create the goals. I’m sort of the one that sits in the middle of the pitch and protects the back four and helps the back four, but I do like to go up the pitch as well.
“I can do a little bit of that as well, obviously just depending on what the manager wants. I’ve played some different styles and enjoyed both sides really, but more defensive minded, more conservative rather than all out attacking or all out defending.”
I’m sure you met them on Tuesday night, how excited are you to play in front of that Mem crowd?
“I’ve played at the stadium a few times and the atmosphere had been great. I remember the time I was at Blackburn, and we got beaten with a last-minute goal and the stadium was electric. That always stuck with me really.
“I’ve sort of bypassed playing Rovers, really. I’ve only played them twice or three times, I think, in my career. I’m looking forward to getting there and playing and sampling that atmosphere. If the results are anything like the last two, it’s only going to get better and better and better.”
You trained at the Quarters today, what was that experience like? Was it a good chance to meet your new teammates?
“Yes. Obviously, I’ve been here for a day and a half now. It’s nice getting used to the players, obviously it wasn’t a full training session because the lads had a game on Tuesday and on the second day, recovery. The lads were out there and it was nice getting to know them, making relationships and just catching up really.”
