Goodbye and good luck - 13/08/2005

Nicky Butt - a truly great professional

Links:  Players:    Nicky Butt    Andy O Brien    Jamie McClen    Darren Ambrose

I’ve seen quite a few of my colleagues move on this summer, OB, Aaron, Darren Ambrose, Nicky Butt and of course Jamie McClen – now at Carlisle and known as Ketchup head!!

Andy O’Brien has been a good mate and along with Aaron was always one of the most conscientious professionals at the club. Similarly Darren deserves success and handles himself very well. It’s worthwhile to note that all three commanded decent transfer fees and have moved to fellow Premiership clubs – this speaks for itself in terms of their worth. I wish them all the best of luck

Nicky Butt is another tremendous professional. He keeps himself to himself in terms of publicity, but around the club he was excellent. He had time for everybody and was always making himself available and giving advice to the young lads in the reserves and juniors. It’s a shame that this side of character receives such little attention.  

Jamie departure was in somewhat different circumstances and I’m very glad to hear that he’s really enjoying himself at Carlisle. He hasn’t enjoyed his football over the last few years but now he feels part of a squad and is playing first team football.

I’ll keep in touch with him because he’s such a great lad – and always an entertainer – even if the joke is mostly on him! He was on the phone the other day and seems to have picked up the nickname of ‘Ketchup Head’. The story goes that after being subbed in a warm up game, he took his place on the bench when the physio handed him an ice-pack. Jamie said that didn’t have a problem so didn’t need the ice – to which he was told ‘Aye, but you haven’t seen the colour of your face!!’.

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