Archived work from 2006: Interview with Brian O'Neil

I was recently searching through all the old documents on my laptop and came across some of my university work. For those of you who don't know, I did Journalism at university and I found some great little features and interviews that I did for a portfolio based around football. So I thought I'd share some of them with you.

With that in mind, please remember that I've been out of university for about five years now and I think this interview with Brian O'Neil was in my final year, so it's obviously very much out of date! But I thought I'd still post it up because it's quite nice to look back and it's a good read.

So here's a piece I did for a portfolio of work, I think from 2006...not long after this was done Brian O'Neil retired from football due to injuries.


Preston’s
Brian O’Neil talked to me about his fond memories from Celtic, the
importance of his family and how much he’s enjoying life at North End.

“Are you alright over there Neily?” asks Preston North
End manager Billy Davies, winking with a cheeky grin. Brian O’Neil laughs and
replies in a thick Scottish accent: “No, I could do with some candles and will
you dim down the lights too?”

Thankfully, I don’t take any offence to their jibes; the
familiarity of such a masculine environment is something I’m used to being a
female football fan. Sitting together at a table in the corner of the room,
away from the other journalists, I get all of Brian’s attention. I automatically
dismissed the footballer stereotype as he pulls out my chair and offers me a
drink.

Dressed in his North End training gear, Brian is quite
different to what you’d expect and starts off talking about his personal life
and how important his children are.

Reminiscing, Brian says: “I grew up in Paisley in Scotland
where I first started playing for Celtic as a lad, I was only 12 years old and
my family were huge fans as was I. Now I live in Lytham with my family, I’ve
got three children they’re three, five and eight years old, and are a handful
but worth every minute of it. I’m a family man, I love spending time with my
family and friends, and the occasional game of golf”

The 35-year-old midfielder spent six years at Celtic
before moving to Nottingham Forest, Aberdeen, Wolfsburg and an unhappy spell at
Derby County before he arrived at Preston North End in 2003.

His time at Celtic is fondly remembered and Brian beams
as he thinks of how proud his Dad was. Laughing, Brian says: “We were massive
Celtic fans and he was so proud that I was out there playing for them. My debut
was brilliant and has got to be my best memory of being there.”

Quite disheartened Brian says: “In 1996 I was called up
to the Scotland team for the first time, I was so proud to be playing for my
national team but unfortunately I didn’t get much of a run and I’ve spent most
my call ups on the bench. It can be frustrating being away from my family when
I don’t get to play.”

His Preston debut is one Brian wants to forget as he
tells me they lost 4-0 to Ipswich Town on a cold January day: “It wasn’t great!
But at least things have changed since then.”

Things sure have changed including reaching the play-off
finals, which they lost 2-0. Brian sighs: “It’s not a bad memory but I was so
disappointed we lost the game. I have so many great memories from here already
that it almost doesn’t matter. My best has got to be the play-off game against
Derby County at Deepdale, it was a full house and we won 2-0.”

A true gentleman and a refreshing change, Brian stood up
and thanked me for taking the time to talk to him. As he heads off he grabs his
team mate Danny Dichio and they laugh like a pair of school boys as Brian trips
up a curb.

I've got got a few more features from university that I'm going to put on my blog too, so keep an eye out for them!