Exclusive Interview with Ex-City player Spencer Prior

Recently I had the opportunity to interview yet another ex-City player. A man who has played against Bayern Munich and Inter Milan before his twenty first birthday who is now a Southend legend living in Australia. Here's the interview I recently conducted with former City midfielder, Spencer Prior:

Spencer up against Everton's Kevin Campbell whilst at Derby.

Growing up as a boy, who had you dreamed to play for growing up in Essex?

I grew up as a Chelsea supporter. Kerry Dixon and David Speedie were my heroes ….However as a kid you always knew that West Ham was the club you wanted to get to if you wanted to develop. Tony Carr has worked there forever, and has a wonderful history of developing top young talent.

You broke into the Southend side but moved to a Norwich team at a very early age, tell me what it was like playing against such teams including Inter Milan and Bayern Munich? 

Fantastic experience, and probably didn't appreciate our achievements until I finished playing, and had time to reflect on my career. Norwich was such a wonderful club, with top players to learn from.

You went from a stable team in Derby to a struggling City, why did you opt to pursue your career with Manchester city at such a time when many players wouldn't have even considered it?

I loved every minute of playing for Derby, and looking back it was years ahead of all my previous clubs in terms of the sports science. It was a really enjoyable time and we overachieved on the pitch due to all the work that went on off it by the coaching staff. However once I had the chance to join City it was an opportunity I couldn't turn down given the size and magnitude of the club.

Upon your arrival at City, did you feel any pressure of signing for the club and playing in front of a crowd of near 32,000 people every home game? 

Always felt pressure to achieve and be successful, that’s the job of a professional footballer. The passion of the fans was awesome, and they really got behind us. 

How key was then City manager, Joe Royle, on your decision to join City, as it is rumoured you turned down moves to Nottingham Forrest and Huddersfield Town at the time, before agreeing to sign City? 

Joe was fantastic. I loved playing for him. His energy, humour, and desire to succeed was infectious on us all. Besides, I couldn't join Forest from Derby, as I'd of been battered!!

Describe to me what it was like in May '00 away at Blackburn? Is there any one moment from that day that stands out? 

The whole day was just a blur….we got smashed in the 1st half, and it was only when we scored, that we realised just how many City fans there were in the stadium. It was the end of an emotional, and both physically, and mentally challenging run in. 

City's first game back was at The Valley against Charlton, a fellow promoted side, what was the difference between the two sides that day?

Complacency. It wasn't a good way to start the season, and looking back there are things I'd do differently to prepare for a game.

Throughout the season, City received a lot of heavy defeats, and some also good results, what was the worst and best moment of that season?

Prior playing in front of 32,000 at Maine Road

I think the high point would be the draw at Old Trafford. To say I've played in a Manchester derby is something very special, and makes me very proud. I think the low would be the first day against Charlton. 

City would eventually end up going down that season after an away defeat to Ipswich in May, looking back, do you feel City were totally unequipped for the season that year?

I think we were as we had an excellent squad, with some real quality. The Premier League is the best competition in the world, and no team has a divine right to be in it. Even though I moved on, I was so happy to see the club bounce back and get promotion.

You left City in May 2001 shortly after the side going down to the first division. You joined Cardiff but do you feel it was the right choice in the end for your career at that time or do you feel it was necessary for a fresh challenge? 

At that time a move away was the best thing for me. Cardiff had some amazing long term plans, and I really wanted to be a part of that journey. 

During your time at City, we had some truly talented players, but who do you feel was technically the best player at the club?

Ian Bishop. Bish had absolutely no pace, but technically he was one of the best I've ever played with. His ability to read the game, was unbelievable. Great banter in the changing room as well. 

Throughout your City career, did you build up any friendships with anyone in particular? If so, who? And who is your closest friend in the game? 

I'm really close with Kasey Keller from our time together at Leicester. Our friendship was formed on our love of the mosh pit, and we spent lots of time together at gigs. I'm very close to my old coaching staff at Derby, and keep in regular contact with Steve Round, and Bill Beswick. Both have been huge influences on my football philosophy in the transition into coaching. From City I'm now back in contact with Kevin Horlock, through the power of twitter the banter has picked up where we left off, and its great to see him doing so well with his boys team.

After leaving City you went on to join Cardiff, a club who went on that season to win the Second Division play off Final. Describe to me the pressure and emotions that went through you that day? Having missed out the year before after losing to Stoke in the semi. It was one of the best days of my career, playing at the Millennium Stadium, and beating QPR. I signed for the club to do a job, and I felt I owed it to myself to prove a few people wrong. 

Sadly your time at Cardiff is well documented about the feelings the Cardiff fans felt towards you, in particular an appearance you made where the stadium booed you coming on, how did that make you feel? Do you think that affected your performances at Cardiff? 

Not at all. I came out publicly and said I was glad it was me they gave stick to, and not any of the young players, as it would of had an impact on them where they didn't get under my skin. I don't think it was the best period of my journey through professional football.

After your Cardiff venture, you went home to Southend before getting an offer from Australia. Take me through that time in your career?

Spencer back at his hometown club

I nearly walked away from football after the Cardiff experience. I was only talked into continuing by Phil Parkinson who was at Colchester at the time. I joined them for training with a view to signing for them, however an opportunity came up to go back to Southend and finish my career where I started. Southend were in League 2, and I wash't happy with it. So I went back and within two years we were in the Championship. Loved it back there,. And being my home town team I'm extremely proud of all I achieved there. We knew I was retiring and moving to Sydney half way through my last season at Southend as we had visa's to move over.

The Australian league's reputation is slowly growing due to foreign recruits in the past seven or eight years such as Dwight Yorke, Emile Heskey, Robbie Fowler and most notably Alessandro Del Piero. How highly do you rate the A-League currently and how far can they go?

You're right the league is getting better. We've gone through a tough period, and the next few years are about stability. Western Sydney Wanderers were the latest team to join the competition which was really important, as its the heartland of football in this Country. We have a really good new CEO in David Gallop, and a new Head of the A League in Damien De Bohun, and the FFA have just signed a new TV deal. The biggest challenge is trying to convert the Euro snobs, that the football here is a product they should get involved in. We'll get there eventually!!! 

Is returning to England at all in your future plans?

Australia is now my home, however I won't rule anything out. I'm enjoying the work I'm doing at the moment, and will be starting my Pro Diploma this year. You never know whats round the corner, as it's a funny old game.

May 13th 2012, Where were you? Explain your emotions and tell me what it is like watching players such as Sergio Aguero, Yaya Toure and David Silva playing for City only a short time after your departure?

I was in bed. It was the middle of the night in Oz, but I stayed awake to watch the game of course. Might of woke the kids up when I screamed after that amazing finish to the game. Watching players like that at City just shows how influential money is in the game. 

"Old City" or the "New City"?

Old City….I watch the games now, and I ask "where are the kids in the ground?" Its become so expensive for a Dad to take his boy to the game, that they're no longer getting the experiences we did as kids watching live football at the grounds. Don't get me wrong, I love the success that City are now having, but we must remember this is a game for the fans.

Do you have any regrets from your time at City? Or even your entire career, would you change anything?

My only regret was leaving when I did. I loved living in Manchester, and we had a great time there. Moving to Cardiff and I probably shouldn't of eaten the sheeps testicles, but then again Sam Hamman was pretty influential. 

On behalf of the readers of Eye Of The Kippax, I'd like to thank you kindly for your time to conduct this interview and wish you all the best to you and your family in the future.