You are the manager of NIFL Championship club Harland and Wolff Welders having been appointed in 2022. How do you reflect on your time in charge so far?
“Well, it’s been an interesting project. The initial appeal for me was the club’s history and the fact that they had recently moved into a new stadium. I saw great potential in the stadium alone, and it’s a well-established club in East Belfast. However, when I first joined, I found that the squad was ageing.
“As a result, I’ve had to make some adjustments and bring in younger players. Now, the majority of our players are between 19 and 25 years old. This has given the team a new energy, both in our play and overall dynamics. I think that has been the most significant change—making the necessary adjustments to rejuvenate the squad.”
You’ve got a unique experience as a coach having coached at club level but you’ve also worked at international level with the IFA. How much did you learn from your time working in a national set-up?
“I spent three and a half years in the national set-up, and I really enjoyed it; it was a great experience. It was youth football, so we were up against some top players. I remember Deulofeu for Spain really causing us problems in one game—he was at Barcelona at the time. But overall, it was a valuable experience.
“Club management in Northern Ireland is different, though. It’s a very robust league, similar to some of the lower leagues in Scotland, where there’s no quarter given or asked. You have to be on top of your game physically and mentally every match. Despite that, I’ve always aimed to play a good footballing game, and I don’t think I’ll ever change that approach. We try to play football, but finding the right balance between that and being physically competitive has been challenging—something I’ve been working on up until this season.
“Hopefully, that can change this year. We’re focused on getting the balance right between playing good football and being able to physically dominate our opponents. We definitely fell short in that aspect last year, but we’re addressing it this season. So far, even in pre-season, the signs have been positive, with some really strong performances against premiership opposition. Club football and international football are obviously different experiences, but this is a new challenge that I’m really enjoying.”
As a player, Brian Clough signed you for Nottingham Forest in the 1980’s. What are your memories of Cloughie?
“I was just reflecting on this because I’m in a unique position now, having had the experience of being with Clough. I’ll always remember the day I signed. My dad—who passed away a few years ago, God rest him—was actually in the room with Clough that day. They spent the afternoon together, and since Clough was a very social person, they ended up drinking scotch and beer.
“Brian Clough Statue” by Reading Tom is licensed under CC BY 2.0.
“My dad had a really positive experience that day—being in the presence of a man who was revered, highly respected, and truly a legend in those days. Clough had a way of taking a player from nothing and making him something. I had a great experience under Clough in terms of learning the game. Although I came up a bit short in my playing career—I only played a few practice matches and friendlies and never made it to the first team—it was still a fantastic time for me. I made some good friends, many of whom I’m still close to today.
“If I had to pick one thing that really stood out from that time, it would be related to my son, Josh. He’s playing at the Welders now, and of course, there’s the pressure that comes with being my son, along with all the talk about how ‘he’s only playing because of his dad,’ and so on. But my experience with Clough and his son, Nigel, who is actually the same age as me, has been valuable. We spent many months in the same changing room and played in the same reserve team together. I watched how Nigel evolved as a player and how Clough treated him just like any of the other boys. If Nigel needed a telling-off, he got it right in front of everyone.
“That experience has probably helped me handle Josh’s situation better, and he’s been one of our bright lights as we start the season.”
Many of the players that you have will have ambitions of playing in England one day. Do you use the experiences that you had as a player to help you in your coaching when you’re working with these young players?
“Well, you can still make it, but the game has changed a lot. Back in our day, players in the UK, particularly in England, were mostly drawn from the home nations and occasionally from Western Europe. I think it was in the late 70s that Bobby Robson brought in the Dutch players, and then, Spurs brought in the Argentinians in the 80s. When I was playing, most of my teammates were local, so the pathway to the top was easier.
“Nowadays, it’s more difficult for kids because players in England come from all over the world. You really need to be special to make it to the top level. For example, what Conor Bradley has achieved at Liverpool is remarkable. Being a local boy from Castlederg and making it onto Liverpool’s first team as a 21-year-old is incredibly tough. There’s only a small percentage of players who can do that.
“But the market is more interesting now. I believe there are players here who could break into the English or Scottish markets because we have a strong development pathway. The players here might not have high expectations, but they’re willing to work hard for what they achieve. When you have a player who’s determined to work hard, you’re already halfway there.
“At the Welders, I have five or six really promising young players, around 19 to 21 years old. They’re all good kids who want to work hard and succeed in the game. Hopefully, the experiences I’ve had as both a player and a coach can guide them in the right direction and help them seize those opportunities when they come.”
Finally Paul, what are your aims for the remainder of the season?
“First of all, we need to achieve a level of consistency, and that starts with getting a group of players who are fully invested in what we’re trying to accomplish. We work the players hard on the training pitch—everyone says that, but we genuinely do. The real challenge is getting them to implement those lessons on the field.
“We also understand that there are no easy games in the Championship. It’s a tough league, and we have to approach each game on its own merits. We need to be at our best every single game and never underestimate our own efforts or what the opponents are capable of.”
Featured image: Harland and Wolff Welders FC
Callum McFadden 