‘I went in goal and ended up signed as a keeper – but after a couple of years I wasn’t really enjoying it so just went back to playing out’
CITY STAR REVEALS ‘STRANGE’ JOURNEY FROM BETWEEN THE POSTS TO ACE WING-BACK
IN the rare event that Coventry City ever need an outfield player to step in as an emergency goalkeeper, Mark Robins need look no further than Jake Bidwell.
The 29-year-old wing-back’s journey in football is a fascinating one, having started out at Manchester City before moving between the posts at Everton’s Academy after being spotted filling in for his Sunday league team.
“I was there as a goalkeeper for about two years when I was about 11,” said the Southport-born player, who joined the Sky Blues last January but who has only this season established himself as the club’s first choice in his position.
“I was an outfield player for my Sunday league team and the goalkeeper went on holiday for about six weeks to
Australia so we needed someone to go in and cover. I went in goal and ended up being scouted, went for a trial and signed as a keeper. But after a couple of years I wasn’t really enjoying it so just went back to playing out. It’s a bit of a strange story really.
“They wanted me to stay but I wasn’t enjoying it and to be fair to my mum and dad they were very supportive and let me go back and just playing with my mates, and that’s what I did and luckily for me I went back six months later as an outfield player.”
He went on to captain the Toffees’ Under-18s to the Premier Academy League title and be named Everton’s 2010-11 Academy Player Of The Year. He made nearly 100 appearances and scored seven goals for the Under-18 and reserve teams before switching to then League One Brentford in 2011 on loan.
After a further 12 months at Griffin
Park he made a permanent move to the London club, helping the Bees gain promotion to the Championship and establishing himself as a virtual ever present, helping the club make the play-offs in 2015. Spells at QPR and Swansea City followed before signing for Coventry in the last January transfer window.
But the no-nonsense defender has had to bide his time and be patient at City, joining at a time when the club already had former fan favourite Ian Maatsen as Robins’ first choice left wing-back.
“I think that was the first time in my career that I was in and out of the team and that was difficult, but I always knew it was going to be the case, coming into a team during the middle of the season and doing very well at that time,” he said. “The team were going well; I think we were eighth when I signed so I had to be patient and I was a different style of player so there were things I had to get used to.” Bidwell knew that despite playing 40 plus games a season throughout the majority of his career that he had to take a longer term view at the CBS Arena.
“I knew that was the case when I joined,” he agreed. “I didn’t sign a six month deal, I signed for a few years so
My mum and dad were very supportive and luckily for me I went back six months later as an outfield player. Jake Bidwell
it was always the bigger picture for me. The gaffer mentioned that there would be a bedding in period and that he was looking for me to come back in pre-season fit and strong and looking to work hard and get myself in the team. And thankfully I managed to do that and I am enjoying playing, and hopefully I can carry that on.”
Maatsen’s shoes were big ones to fill in terms of the Chelsea loan man’s attacking ability. Being a more physical than flair wing-back, coupled with stop-start form, perhaps, clouded some fans’ judgement of the player in his first few months at the club. But having started every game so far this season, albeit with no recognised rival vying for his shirt, Bidwell is finally earning credit from the supporters.
Asked if he feels appreciated by the fans, he said: “Umm, I don’t know to be honest. I’m not on social media or anything like that so I don’t know, but what
you hear on game days, the fans are only ever behind us. They travel in big numbers wherever we go and they are always well up for the home games, so I only see positive things from them.”
Bidwell’s professionalism has not gone unnoticed by his manager who believes fans are yet to see the best of the player.
“There’s more to come from Jake, there’s no doubt about that, but he’s doing well,” said Robins. “He’s a totally different player, he has a lot of experience at the level and copes with most things that are thrown at him. He’s a top top pro and nice kid.
“He’s one who you look at and use as an example for what he does. The reason he wanted to come in early to speak to the press this week was because he wanted to get in the gym, so he does everything right, and for that he gets his rewards. He’s a model professional really.”