As the season is coming to a close, I caught up with Harrow Borough legend Shaun Preddie. Discussing his views on how the campaign has gone. As well as his journey in football, including a spell in the states. A true great in the Reds history. Someone not many players come close to since the sides founding in 1933. Our leader!
Q) Earlier in your career you played in the USA. How different to the Uk was it, and is there any American aspects you’d like to see implemented over here?
America, it was a great experience. I can’t complain. I love the way they try and get home grown players in their major leagues. I love the way they integrated the educational system into their academies, so it’s promoting the education side as well as the athletic side. It’s like a contingency plan for the athletes if they don’t make it as professionals. The European leagues are a lot more technical compared to the American leagues. Don’t get me wrong, they are some very technical players over there. It’s a growing league. But I feel the English leagues are a lot more competitive, because we have promotion and relegation. Which gives it an edge. Of course, where you play over there is different to here. The weather is different. They play on a lot of artificial turfs. It’s a lot hotter, so if you’re coming from Europe you might suffer.
Q) Having also made appearances for Hamworth villa and Chipstead before Joining Harrow, what is something that attracted you to the club?
I didn’t know too much about Harrow. It was just Bakes; I was with Bakes at Chipstead beforehand. He saw I was a good player. He asked me to come along. When he initially asked, I had a broken bone in my foot. I was going out to America so said no. When I didn’t get my opportunity in America, I came back. Came to harrow.
Q) During your spell with the club you’ve captained the side many times. How important is leader ship in this level?
Of course, you need a leader, regardless of what activity or sport you play. I’m the focal point of the team. The energy. The most vocal. But we have eleven leaders out there, it’s just unfortunate we haven’t got the levels that we hoped. Specially this season. The way we started we really had the aspiration and hope we’d get into the play offs. Unfortunately, that did not come into fruition. For myself and the team. Hopefully next season!
Q) Outside of your playing career you work for Brentford. What impact has this had on your journey, and your role in squads over the years.
It has helped me mature as an individual. Most of the time I know, sixty percent of the time I’m joyful I’m playful at Harrow. But it has helped me mature as an individual. It’s given me a career within the football environment. So even after my playing days, being in this environment and set up hopefully id be able to go on and stay within the sport for many years to come.
Q) What has been your favourite moment playing for Harrow?
There has been many ups and downs playing for Harrow. Some would say there’s been too many lows. But obviously playing in the first round of the FA Cup, against Portsmouth is a new one. I know we did it last time against Northampton but personally I was very nervous that game. I didn’t get to perform to the levels id have liked to. But playing against Portsmouth, I felt comfortable. I felt happy. I felt chilled. When we first come into this league, we obviously won a bundle of games and nearly got into the play offs. That was a good time.
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