words Roger Hughes pictures steve pope
football is speckled with a host of “It is great to come out of Islington” says we were an arrogant team. You could say we
troubled souls who have failed to Bothroyd. “A few players have come out of had a chip on our shoulders, we did not lose
realise their potential – cardiff city’s there and it is a credit to my roots. My dad too many games,” he said.
Jay bothroyd is one young man used to take me to the park, me and my friends
who threatened to add his name to were always over there playing constantly. Arsenal made sure they got the value out
that list. of the young striker, they secured a million
“That is all you do growing up as a young lad pounds from Coventry.
But instead Bothroyd has become an integral in London, playing football. You do not play
part helping Cardiff City to try and end their tennis or golf, it is all about football. I had some Bothroyd was top scorer in his final season at
long time absence from the top flight of league friends who were wrong-uns and they loved Highfield Road, but when his contract came to
football, turning round the fans who did not football. We used to get off lessons I was not an end in the summer of 2003, with Coventry
want the 26-year-old to make their club his really interested in and go and play football.” struggling financially, it was time to move on.
seventh in a short career.
In that area of London the rivalry between After a successful trial he was signed by the
The former Arsenal and England Under 21 Arsenal and Tottenham is rife, but for the Italian Seria A side Perugia. Here he set up
striker has had his problems, some outside Bothroyd clan the pull was the red of Highbury. a friendship with one Saadi Gaddafi, son of
his control, some down to his temperament the notorious Libyan leader. On the pitch
and his make up, but the start of this season He joined Arsenal as a schoolboy and came Bothroyd played with and against World cup
proved to be the beginning of another chapter through the youth system under the Academy stars he had only thought he would see on
in Bothroyd`s football odyssey. coach at the time, the greatly respected Don television.
Howe.
Cardiff Boss Dave Jones became only the However the move to Italy had a disturbing
second manager prepared to pay money for “He was fine, he was one of the lads. He had twist for the 21-year-old. “I went to play
his services. Not quite the million pounds paid a bigger build than most of the schoolboy football in Italy. The manager said that there
by Coventry to Arsenal, but three hundred academy lads, he was six foot and yet his might be racism and I did not know what to
thousand brought a move to Ninian Park which ability was good. He had a super left foot,” expect,” he said.
was not universally welcomed. remembers Howe.
“I just shrugged my shoulders. I was not
The fans were disgruntled at the lack of the “We have probably got prepared for what happened. We had a few
addition of a quality striker, a big name striker. black players in the team and each time one of
Bothroyd’s signing was seen as a panic buy. His more out of him than a lot us touched the ball there were monkey chants.
record was not that impressive. I felt so hurt.”
of other clubs.”
One fan on a web-site posted that Bothroyd Perugia, like Coventry, were struggling
was “Gifted, but lazy, disruptive, had no The young striker had a bright future, until financially, and Bothroyd was seen as an asset
passion and was arrogant.” So did Cardiff his first brush with authority. Having been they could afford to be without. But there was
manager Dave Jones take a risk in signing substituted in a youth cup match, Bothroyd an up-side to his torturous two years in Italy.
Bothroyd? obviously did not agree with Howe`s decision He came back with a precious asset, “My wife
and threw his shirt into the dug-out. Howe (Stella). She has been great for me. She is older
“Every player you sign is a risk. He is a player says it was a fatal move. than me, so she has helped me knuckle down
who has ability but he does not show it and concentrate on what is valuable in life.”
consistently, though we have probably got “He was a little bit temperamental, there is
more out of him than a lot of other clubs,” no doubt about that. As he came off the pitch The return brought the England under 21
admitted Jones. he whipped his shirt off and threw it into the international to Blackburn Rovers for a season.
bench,” said Howe. He was hardly a regular on the team sheet.
“he needs to settle down and produce the Next stop on the football merry-go-round
goods that showed why other managers went “He did not understand he was throwing an took him back in London and Charlton. Again,
for him. Sometimes you have to find a place Arsenal shirt. There were a few directors at though, his appearances were spasmodic.
where you are suited to, and at the moment the game and they did not like that, so they
he has found that. I believe that there is more decided to move him on.” A change of manager spelt the end at the
to come from him, but he has got to have the Valley, but Mick McCarthy had just become
willingness to show that. It does not happen There is no doubt that even as a youngster manager at Wolverhampton Wanderers and
overnight.” Bothroyd had experienced the low point Bothroyd became his first full signing.
of his career. He refers to it as his ‘biggest
Born in Islington North London, which is disappointment’ having to leave Arsenal. On arrival at Molyneux Bothroyd said, “I don`t
not one of the most sought after areas of the want to be part of a squad anymore, I want to
capital city, life was tough - but football was a “You do not appreciate what you have when be first choice and lead the line. I feel the best
way out. you are younger, you take it for granted. There in me is yet to come.”
were loads of players who got up to mischief,
sportingwales
issue6twothousand&nine
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