The Big Interview: Steve Garratt and Peter Davies continue their chit-chat with Millennium Man Gareth Owen
What’s your most favoured position?
“In goal! Anybody who was at Burnley that night would have seen how quickly I got the gloves on because I was having a bit of a nightmare. Seriously, anywhere in midfield. I think I prefer the left, which might sound strange being right-footed, but most of the time when I receive the ball the whole of the pitch is on my right. It just gives me more space to work in. The middle of the midfield-three is the easiest because you’re not expected to get in the box as much, and the right can be a nightmare if you haven't got a winger to play with.”
Who, currently in world football, is your favourite player in your own position?
“In this country Roy Keane is definitely my choice. He's got the lot, even if he does get injured quite a bit. On the continent, I think Rivaldo has unbelievable talent and can do things with a ball that most of us can only dream of!”
Who are your biggest mates in soccer?
“I don't really knock around with anybody in particular. I get on with everybody at the club and when I go out it's usually with about ten of the lads. But I travel in with the Car Squad, which is Macca and Kev Dearden, so I better give them a mention.”
Could you ever imagine playing for another club and not Wrexham?
“No, not at the moment. I've still got 18 months left on my existing contract; while that is still running all I'm concentrating on is doing my best for Wrexham.”
How does it feel when the Kop sings ‘THERE’S ONLY ONE GARETH OWEN!’?
“It's great when I hear that coming from the Kop. It gives me a real buzz because it means that I must have done something worth shouting about.”
What’s been your favourite personal moment playing for Wrexham?
“It happened not so long back at Aberystwyth, leading the troops out. I've been skipper for the reserves a few times and once when Big Bri was sent off, but to be actually given the armband before the game meant as much to me as running out at Old Trafford in the FA Cup.”
Which goal that you’ve scored do you particularly treasure?
“It would have to be the winner against Cardiff in the FAW Imitation Trophy two years ago. Not the most spectacular of goals - but a right-place-at-the-right-time goal if ever you saw one, especially with it being in the last couple of minutes of extra time at home.”
Every person we interview for RP always says that you had massive potential and promise as a youngster but that you’ve never quite progressed as much as people thought, or totally fulfilled that promise. They always say things like: ‘I thought he would have moved by now’ or ‘He should be playing in a higher division by now.’ How do you respond to all this?
“There's not much I can say to that - only that I think everybody has strengths and everybody has weaknesses. As I mentioned earlier, I think one of my weaknesses is my consistency and it has let me down on more occasions than I care to remember, and it's not as if I don't know about it. I do. It's the getting it right that's the difficult part and I think that this is one of the reasons I haven't progressed as I would have liked.”
Your teammates. Could you possibly pass on some revealing insights or interesting trivia about your teammates?
Dearden?
“Po - a dead-ringer in his red training kit. Joined the Car Squad early this season, works hard in training and is usually last to leave the field, and therefore gets loads of stick off me and Macca for making the Car Squad late.”
Cartwright?
“Hugger - not quite sure why. A big fella with the hairiest body this side of Bigfoot - not a pretty sight in the showers. Like myself he loves cars and is a bloke you would want in the trenches with you - just to block everything really.”
gareth owen: top trivia
What’s your favourite/least favourite food?
Chicken Tikka Massala/Eggs
Do you eat yogurts? If so, what’s your favourite flavour?
I have one most days: Strawberry, Raspberry, whatever's there.
What’s your favourite/least favorite drink?
Bicardi Breezer (Watermelon), Red Square, warm Stella
What’s your favourite holiday resort?
Cyprus
Who’s your favourite TV soccer pundit?
I think Alan Hansen is as good as anybody - great player too
What’s your favourite radio station?
96.7 City FM
What’s your favourite chocolate bar?
Chunky Kit Kat
What’s on your CD player at present?
Robbie Williams - both albums, top geezer; soundtrack from The Matrix; Tears for Fears - Greatest Hits; Texas - they’re all in the car. I like a lot of synthesizer music from the ‘80's: Depeche Mode, New Order, OMD, Pet Shop Boys - that sort of thing.
Who’s your dream woman?
Better give the Missus a mention here. Kim Basinger as well.
What are your favourite TV programmes?
I'm Alan Partridge, Bottom, Fawlty Towers, The Young Ones, Friends, The Royle Family. Love the telly, me.
What do you think of Tony Blair?
OK at first, but not so sure now. Not much of a politician really.
McGregor?
“Macca - another member of the Car Squad and, like myself, is forever getting sentences mixed up. For example, somebody asked him about some shoes in the Isle of Man and he was adamant they were Winkeypickles instead of Winklepickers. Just one of many - believe me! Forever on his mobile as well.”
Hardy?
“H - my roomy. We've known each other for about 12 years now, and there's not much we don't know about each other - you wouldn't think so the way we play together down that left, would you? We're always joking about being groundsmen when we're 70 and still being at the club.”
Brace?
“Del Boy - great lad, very patriotic, loves rugby just as much as football. Another geezer you would want in the trenches with you. Give him an Uzi and send him on a mazy, then watch as the opposition runs for cover. One of his favourite sayings is: ‘It's not the dog in the fight…it’s the fight in the dog.’”
Carey?
“Big Bri - gentle giant and family man off the pitch; lunatic when he crosses that white line. Mr Consistent is always there to stick out 'Oxford' or 'Cambridge' - his boots, size 10½ - when needed. Also another net user and lover of most music.”
Spink?
“Deano - another big fella you'd want in the trenches with you. Looks like a Greek God but you couldn't meet a more down-to -earth bloke. Originally bought as a striker but converted to centre-half, where two seasons ago he was voted Player of the Year. Also one of the best-dressed players at the club.”
Ridler?
“Rids - another player from the Karl Connolly stable. Over the years I've seen quite a few players come and go but Rids is the most improved player I've ever seen at the club. He works very hard at his game, is always encouraging everybody when he plays, and he's also got an over- my-dead-body attitude which is great to have as a defender.”
Humes?
“To - former club captain and one of the most respected players at the club. He is a great bloke to have around the place.”
Chalk?
“Chalky - I have a good laugh with Chalky most days. He likes his videos - mostly classics from the ‘70's and ‘80's like Slapshot, Enter the Dragon, Midnight Run - and is quite an expert on his antiques. He's got a bit of a collection and was no doubt gutted when Benno left the club.”
Gibson?
“Gibbo or Cueball - it's a long story. Recently moved to Wrexham with his girlfriend. Had a couple of terrible injuries over the last year or so, but is getting back to full fitness and on his day a worry for any defence.”
Phillips?
“Rushie or the Machine - he could run for a World XI. He recently moved back to where he belongs! A Wrexham player through and through and with hindsight I bet he wishes he had never left. He never got the respect he deserved at Stockport and consequently never played as many games as he could have. We're all glad to have him back - even though at the moment he is being frustrated by injuries. I'm sure he'll be back before we know it.”
Barrett?
“Baz - signed from Newcastle last year and quickly settled into the side. Not easy for such a young lad and I think he dealt with being thrown in at the deep end very well. Came out of his shell soon after signing - and hasn't shut up since!”
Williams?
“Danny the Flap - what can I say about this geezer? Already established as a regular in the first team and a talented lad. Loves to ping passes about the place - especially first thing in the morning before he's done his warm-up. Never shuts up. He goes on and on all day and he's always slaughtering somebody - usually Ieaun the chef!”
Ferguson?
“Daz or Fergie - everybody knows Sir Alex but Daz is a name in the game himself. Established himself at United and then moved on to Wolves and Holland - so you can imagine the experience he has. He's a danger to any team at set-pieces and also has a great left foot. A typical Scot: patriotic and received a lot of stick recently when Scotland went out of Euro 2000. Lost some money too...again.”
The recently departed Michael Ryan?
“The Grim Reaper - something Joe picked up on last season. I don't really know the story. Coming from United you'd have expected him to be full of himself - but you couldn't meet a nicer Manc. Supports Stockport, ahem…”
What are the other lads’ nicknames?
“Russell - Cushty. Faulconbridge - Crag. Stevens - Stevo. Lowe - The Freak. Neil Roberts was Robbo.”
What was it like to play with Ian Rush?
“I used to call him Ledge as a sort of tribute more than anything because he's a living legend, and I can always tell the grandchildren that I played with Ian Rush. It proved to be difficult for Rushy to adjust himself to our level of play. Because he thinks and moves so quickly, he was always a step ahead of everyone at Wrexham. I think he was better suited to the midfield role because he was still a great passer of the ball and he always gave 110%. Obviously things weren't going well for him upfront but you could never accuse him of giving up or not trying, and I think that says everything about the kind of fella he is. He still keeps in touch and you couldn't wish to meet a more down-to-earth person off the field, even though he has played for some of the biggest clubs in the world.”
Who’s the nattiest dresser in the Wrexham squad? Who’s the scruffiest?
“Nobody is really bad, but some of Lowey's shirts leave a lot to be desired - especially that lime green bastard. Ssssshhhhheeeesssshhhhhhh!!!!!! He has got a decent 3/4 leather though.”
Who’s the funniest player?
“Everybody has their moments but when he's on form Danny takes some beating. Ieaun the chef gets slaughtered most days; Lowey can be funny too - some of his comments can put you right in your place, as I've already found out. Cushty deserves a mention too.”
Who’s the quietest?
“I think that would have to be Walshy. There's a story from our trip to Bournemouth last year. We were in the hotel bar the night we'd beaten Cardiff in the semis of the FAW Imitation Trophy. We must have been there a couple of hours and Walshy was getting some stick because he hadn't said a word all night. About an hour later his mobile phone went off and all he said was 'Hello'. As you can imagine, we we're all crying…”
Who’s your favourite roommate when you have to share a hotel room? Why?
“I've only ever really roomed with H so I can't really give you a decent answer. Great roomy though - always makes a good cuppa and we can both sleep for the World XI.”
Who picks the music for the team bus?
“Joey likes to bring the odd shite CD to wind us up, but it's mostly films that get watched on the long away trips.”
Is Karl Connolly as quiet with his teammates as he is with the press?
“Never shuts up. You wouldn't believe it, on and on he goes.”
Do you ever go to watch matches?
“Not really, not even on TV. The only games I watch are when United are on - which is quite a lot when you think about it.”
Did you see the Eclipse?
“Yes. I used to be mad on Astronomy so I was quite into that.”
Has Mr Ridler ever cooked you a meal?
“Made me some toast the other week.”
What do you do with your computer?
“I'm really into making music at the moment. I enjoy playing the piano and keyboard and a PC is as good as a home studio if you’ve got the right gear, so I use it to record anything I do. I also like to play games on-line with people from all over the world - which I still can't get my head around. Then there's home banking, surfing the net, email, newsgroups, spreadsheets, word-processing. I can use it to find out almost anything I need to know. Every home should have one.”
Are any of your teammates on email?
“Only Big Bri. I think Chalky might be joining soon.”
What are your hobbies?
“Spending time with the family comes first, but then I'm absolutely mad on cars. I also spend a lot of free time on my PC. I also follow the Touring Car series, Formula 1, and most motor sport. Obviously, having a little girl, it's not always easy to get a night out with the lads but I still enjoy the Golf Days, and the days we have at Chester Races.”
Cheers Gareth - thanks a lot! RP
TESTIMONIAL SPECIAL
There’s only one Gareth Owen (in Flintshire)
Steve Garratt pays a very special - and personal - tribute to Wrexham’s Testimonial man
Several years ago I was paying a visit to my sister’s house, when I noticed a Vauxhall Astra GTE parked on the drive. After being invited in, my sister informed me that her new boyfriend was in the kitchen and that he was a footballer. All sorts of visions came into my head, such as…here we go, this won’t last long, he’s probably a jack-the-lad. All the wrong stereotypical views. Fortunately I could not have been further from the truth, as the footballer in question was Gareth Owen. Over these past years I have got to know Gareth as a good friend and relative and I feel that Gareth’s personality comes across to the fans, just as it does to his family, in that he is a very genuine person.
Gareth has a wide variety of interests and hobbies and always gets really involved in his chosen subject. He buys all the latest magazines relating to his various interests and always acquires a great deal of knowledge. He has picked up the nickname ‘Trigger’ at the club, probably due to the fact that he sometimes appears not to be switched on. I think this is due to the fact that his head is full of ideas about his other interests. One of Gareth’s main interests, which I also share with him, is cars. The Astra GTE that he owned when I first met him turned out to be a bit of a project. We spent weeks fitting a full body kit to the car and considering that his toolbox consists of three drill bits and a ball pein hammer, once sprayed it looked rather good. Not long after this, the car was sold, and Gareth has owned several cars since - and is currently the owner of a BMW (long live Rover!) We have attended race days at Oulton Park together and have also been to Santa Pod dragstrip, which was an unbelievable experience.\
Another of Gareth’s interests is music. He has owned various keyboards and drum machines and has composed many tunes and put them on tape. He appears to be very modest about his music, but I think he has a hidden talent. Although he cannot yet read music, he is still capable of playing a keyboard/piano. We recently attended one of the Testimonial Year evenings and there was a band which consisted of 12 members. Gareth has the ability to pick out certain instruments - whereas to most others, and to me, it’s just one big sound. One of his more recent hobbies is computers and, in particular, building them. I have only been recently introduced to computer technology and to me Gareth seems to be very knowledgeable. But by his own admission, he is only scraping the surface. I am sure with his dedication and effort he will learn more about the ins and outs of PCs, which will stand him in good stead for the future. We attend all the local computer fairs and Gareth has built a PC for his sister and, more recently, for Chalkie. If I ever have a problem with my computer, he can’t wait to come around and sort it out. He is also keen to share his knowledge.
In between following his hobbies, Gareth has a young daughter who also takes up a fair bit of his time. She is a lovely girl with many of her father’s features, although sometimes she can scream a lot louder than her dad. Gareth is always looking for places to take her out, and we quite often go to Uncle Tom’s Cabin in Buckley where our children can play together. Everything seems to go OK until it’s time to leave - and then it’s fingers-in-your-ears time.
I must say there is one thing that has always puzzled me about Gareth: he doesn’t particularly like watching football. If he is ever sitting a game out because of injury, or if there is a game on the TV, he always says that it is very frustrating not being involved. I suppose you really have to respect that. After all, the person behind the counter in McDonalds probably doesn’t eat Big Macs. I could probably write several more pages about Gareth. Maybe about how far he can hit a golf ball, or how much time he has for Wrexham fans - in particular, young children. But this article has started to turn into a job reference. So I would like to wish Gareth every success in the remainder of his Testimonial Season. Believe me, if anyone deserves it, then it’s this lad.
GOOD WORK FELLA.
PS. Big thanks to Darren Ferguson for arranging a game. RP