Dengang Chris kom til byen

Så fyrer vi lige op for endnu et klasse-indlæg her på IYGTAF - bloggen, du troed' var død og borte, men som bare sov!

Der er stadig lidt tid til foråret kommer til 2. Division Vest, hvilket der som bekendt vil være Aarhus Fremads sidste sæson nogensinde i denne lidt tamme liga, og derfor kan du, kære læser, stadig nå at sætte kaffe over til endnu en stor læseoplevelse og tur ned ad mindernes allé (to go,tak), hvilket der på nordaarhusiansk også går under navnet Nordvestpassagen. Nå, er koppen ved at være nede på en temperatur, hvor man tør nippe til den sorte drik? Fint, så begynder indlægget for alvor nu:

Engelske Skysport kører for tiden på deres hjemmeside, der er på engelsk, en serie om fodboldspillere fra fodboldens eget land, England, der tog turen over på den anden side. Ikke ligesom Gascoigne nærmest engang gjorde, men altså unge mennesker, der forsøgte at jagte fodboldlykken udenlandsk. Brits abroad hedder serien, og her kan man for tiden læse om Chris Iwelumo - der faktisk er fra Skotland, hvilket du kan høre her:

 

Chris Iwelumo var også på et tidspunkt fra Aarhus. Med sig havde han sin PlayStation. Den var dog fra Japan. Men den var altså også i Aarhus. Det fortæller den høje og sympatiske skotte til Skysport, hvor han også fortæller andre ting om tiden i det, der dengang var kendt som 'Smilets By'. Han fortæller her om sit første møde med byen og danskerne:

"I went over on a plane and got picked up by the owner and his two daughters. These daughters were Scandinavian models! They took me to the club and I did the press conference. It was just a massive deal for me."

Han kommer dog ikke nærmere ind på hvilken 'club' de tog på, men Diskotek DNA er måske et godt bud? Her kommer et uddrag fra Skysports' artikel:

So you're at St Mirren but you move as a teenager to Denmark. It's an unusual move. How did it come about?

It's a funny one really. I was at St Mirren and I was playing but me and the manager Tony Fitzpatrick were having a bit of a battle of egos. He had some strange thoughts that I never really agreed with and I knew I had to get out if I was going to get on in the game.

But why Denmark?

The Bosman ruling had only just come in then. I knew I had to move on if I was to progress. But St Mirren had offered me a new two-year contract so that meant it would have to go to tribunal if I went to an English club. So basically I would have to go and play abroad for a year before I could come back. That was always my plan.
There were a lot of English clubs interested in me at the time as I was doing well. My agent took me to Denmark just to train for a week and they offered me a three-year contract. So I went abroad and it was the best thing I ever did. I have absolutely no regrets whatsoever. It was a great experience.

A big move for a young lad though?

I packed all of my worldly possessions in a hold-all. I had some clothes, a pair of boots and a Playstation. I went over on a plane and got picked up by the owner and his two daughters. These daughters were Scandinavian models! They took me to the club and I did the press conference. It was just a massive deal for me.

Do you think you need to be a certain type of person to give it a go?

Of course. Everybody likes their home luxuries. There's nothing better than being able to walk out of the door and see your best mate. But this is a short career. You've got to make sure you get the best out of yourself.

Was it tricky to settle in?

I was one of the youngest in the squad and everyone spoke fantastic English. Even the TV was in English so I had my routines. I'd go to the cinema. I just felt so comfortable there. There were guys like Brian Priske, who went on to do really well for Denmark and Portsmouth, who I'm still in touch with. I made a lot of friends out there.

How about on the field?

Football-wise it was a good experience. I played in the Danish Superliga which was great for me and I played most of the games.

You got a deal with Stoke when you returned to Britain. Had Denmark helped you as a player?

Definitely, 100 per cent. I think football is explained to players in a different way in a different culture. If anything it made me a better player.

........... Ja, bla bla og så snakker han lidt om, at han tog til Tyskland, at har en datter og at han nu er  en gammel skotte på 35 år. Du kan læse resten her.

Chris Iwelumo havde kun noget tøj, en PlayStation og denne stol med til Aarhus.