An interview with Daniel Cunningham

After Saturday’s opening league fixture against Bowers & Pitsea, midfielder, Daniel Cunningham has sat down with the SeedGrowers media team to discuss the 2018/19 season, his recent injuries and suspension, his hopes for this season, provided a bit of insight in to the Coggeshall dressing room and more!

Q1: Daniel, you are having to miss the first couple of games this season to suspension. How hard has it been to watch from the side-lines so far?

A1: To be honest, I think everyone who knows me well, knows that this is not the first time in my career where I have had to sit and watch due to suspension. That said, I feel that with the injury that I picked up in pre-season has allowed me extra time that I needed to recover, so I am fit and ready when I am finally unleashed again.

Q2: On Saturday, we hosted a strong Bowers and Pitsea team. How did you think we fared and where do you expect Bowers to finish, based on Saturday’s game?

A2: I was sitting, watching and I was very proud of the boys if I am honest. Throughout the game, I was thinking that if these are the much fancied title winners this season, then we should be fearing nobody this season. It is important to remember though that our main aim this season is to avoid relegation.

Q3: We have made some fantastic additions through the summer on top of last season’s championship winning side. How has this affected the squad and increased competition for places?

A3: I feel that the new lads who have joined the club have kicked everybody on to the next gear, they have settled in very well. This is not a normal club, the competition is key at West Street and I am sure that will sharpen everybody.

Q4: This coming Saturday, we travel to Dereham who were beaten six-nil in their opening fixture. Do you think this will make for a tougher game on Saturday?

A4: Yes, for sure. If I was in a team that had been beaten six-nil the week before, it would not be happening twice in a row. Therefore, I am expecting a very hard and tough battle for us. If we can gain another point on Saturday, it will only help our quest for survival.

Q5: Obviously, you had had to miss the first couple of games this season. How hard do you think it will be to break in to the starting eleven when you return from your suspension?

A5: Personally, I do not believe that anyone has the right to walk straight back in to the team. If I am honest, I know I am going to have to impress in training and when given the opportunity I need to impress of the substitutes bench if I want to gain my number four shirt back! It will not be easy though, as the quality we have within the squad is absolutely superb.

Q6: It is always good for the supporters to have an insight in to the SeedGrowers dressing room. In your opinion, who is the best trainer? Who is the slowest member of the squad? And who has the worst dress sense?

A6: Well, well, well… The best trainer has to be myself. The slowest member of the squad has to be Luke Wilson – James Bransgrove regularly ‘laps’ him in training. The worst dress sense is a tough one, however Ross Wall wears a lot of snide stuff, so I am going to have to go with ‘Wembley Market Wally’.

Q7: You appeared thirty times for the club last season, out of all of your appearances, what game is the most memorable for you?

A7: Throughout last season, we had many memorable moments, for me, it is my finest year in non league football since I started at the tender age of 16. The best moments have to be putting Stowmarket to the sword on their own patch, the away battle against Stanway, but for me, beating Felixstowe at their place was the best part of the season!

Q8: Lastly, this year is out first in the Isthmian League. Come the end of the season, what do you think would be a good achievement for the club?

A8: The main aim for the club this year is to survive, at all costs. We also have to ensure that we keep players like Nnamdi, George Cocklin and Curtis Haynes-Brown at West Street.