08/12/2006 44-45 Echo icarbis 09/12/2006 Main Echo ECHO Sat dec9

44 South Wales Echo








   South Wales Echo 45

SATURDAY BLUEBIRDS: Four football-packed pages WHERE ARE THEY NOW? ...Jon Hallworth A walk in the

Former goalie
JON HALLWORTH
Born:
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Park
Ninian Park diary with TERRY PHILLIPS
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Darren will soon have

now putting
Bluebirds boxing clever
THE entire Cardiff City squad
have been told by manager
Dave Jones: “On yer bikes!”
Barry cycling shop A1
Roaduser has provided
mountain bikes for the
Bluebirds players – and they

faith in bricks
will be used to break up
training routines.
They are still sparkling new
and untouched after being
delivered this week, but it is
certain they will be covered in
mud pretty soon.
First-team coach Terry
Burton also ordered some
boxing training to improve at Llanharan Amateur Boxing

and mortar
upper body strength.
The players have only had
one session with “boxing for
fitness” trainer Darren Wilson
Club so far, but more sessions
are planned in the new year.
Darren’s website is on
www.boxingforlife.co.uk

JON Hallworth has gone from
being between the sticks to
helping people up sticks.
The former Bluebirds stopper
has his own property empire,
renting out nine houses in the
Greater Manchester area.
It is all part of his new career
path that has seen him turn his
back on football after a 20-year
spell in the game.
“I did a little bit of goalkeeping
coaching to help out my old
friend Andy Ritchie at Oldham
Athletic a few years ago,” he
said.
“But seeing how he was
treated there and at Barnsley
recently just shows me that I’ve
made the right decision in stay-
ing away from the game.
“It’s very competitive and
goalkeeping jobs are hard to
Mickey-takers win by a
length at City race night
Ex-keeper builds up property empire
RED Mist, ridden by Stevie Compton Scouting Fund
Mac, won race seven at the 10,000 guineas race.
Cardiff City Football Academy There was a good turn-out
Now 41, Hallworth is back up race night. for the race night, held to
living in the north-west of Eng- It was clearly a dig at raise funds for a future
Darren land with his wife Dianne and Stephen McPhail, sent off for Academy tour, including City
two young children, Ella and catching Lee Hendrie in the manager Dave Jones plus
Witcoop Katie. face at Stoke City and now
serving a three-match ban.
first-team players Steve
Thompson and Willo Flood.
That’s where he spent the
majority of his professional ca- “It was a bit of fun and Steve Also present was former
dogged with long-standing knee reer, despite beginning and end- was great and laughed about Bluebirds midfield player
injuries. ing his career down south at it, especially when Red Mist Jason Fowler, now coaching
He finally accepted medical Ipswich and Cardiff respect- won,” said Ninian Park staff within the club’s Academy.
advice to end his playing career ively. member Nick Alford, who paid Among other horses running
when he was 35. “I was an apprentice at to be the “owner” and name were Sir Chopra, The
The Stockport-born goalkeep- Ipswich, but the move to Old- horse and jockey. Tomohawk and Alexander
er, who played 123 times for ham was a great one for me Red Mist won the Paul Palace.
City, said: “I’d had a great pro- personally,” he said.
fessional career and it was just “I played in two FA Cup
my time to go.
“I’d had trouble with my
knees for some time and during
semi-finals plus a League Cup
final.
Cardiff,” he said. “He persuaded
me to come down and it was a
agers – Osman, Frank Burrows,
Billy Ayre, Bobby Gould and
“I had never been player of
the year at any club and that
40th birthday party last year SCHOOL VISIT ;)##
and still stay in touch with vari- 

&,,#$") Christmas cheer at City

“I was playing against the likes great move for me. Alan Cork – and played a key was special. ous players. #""<(
come by. my last season with Cardiff I RUSSELL OSMAN 7
of Manchester United and Ar- “I needed a change in scenery role in the 1998/99 promotion “The fans voted for the award “I speak to Tony Philliskirk SKIPPER Darren Purse and
“I have no regrets at not stay-

& senal week in, week out in the
ing involved in football what-
soever and never had any am-
bition to do so.”
Hallworth, in fact, was plan-
ning for his future long before
his three-and-a-half-year spell at
Ninian Park ended.
Brought to the club by Russell
Osman in 1997, Hallworth was
played every game.
and Cardiff was the ambitious
“That was despite suffering a
punctured lung and my con-
stant knee trouble.
“I was told by the surgeon
countless times that I should
give up but I carried on.
“But once I could hardly walk,
let alone kick or run – then I knew
I had to say enough was enough.
&
from Division Three.
)##'""(
It still affects me as I cannot play
golf or do other active sports
which is frustrating.
“I’m actually still waiting for a
new knee, which I will have to
wait another five years for as
I’m too young.”
and I was proud to win the
top division.”
Relegation and a change of
personnel, though, saw Hall-
worth leave for pastures new –
and Ninian Park was his next
and final stop.
“I had a few offers, but I knew
Russell well from my time at
Ipswich and he was in charge at
and see a lot of Anthony Carss,
club I was seeking.
“I got a house in Newport and
stayed for as long as my knees
let me.”
Hallworth’s spell was punc-
tured with many highs and lows
during a turbulent spell at the
club.
He played under five man-
His reflexes and stunning abil-
ity to stop shots also made him
the best goalkeeper that sea-
son, which was reflected with
his selection for the PFA Third
Division team and being voted
Cardiff City player of the year.
“I cherished both awards, and
still do,” he said.
award.
“It was also a fantastic honour
to be in the Third Division team
as that had never happened
before.”
Hallworth’s exit coincided
with Sam Hammam’s arrival at
Cardiff, and he added: “I went
back to Wales for Jeff Eckhardt’s
his Cardiff City team-mates
who goes to the same gym as will meet Father Christmas
me. tomorrow.
“I keep saying to my wife that The entire squad will
I will come down and watch attend the club’s children’s
them play again. Christmas party at Ninian
“I intend to – but maybe it will Park.
be with them in the Premiership They are due to take part
next season.” in kids games with young
darren.witcoop@wme.co.uk suppor ters.
Robert Earnshaw was the
best I’ve seen over recent evening and in for training

Gunter surprise call could see

Nick keen to show he’s the real McKoy
years, joining in on Monday.
enthusiastically with a game “It was excellent,” says
of musical chairs and being Purse. “Everybody was on

THE fortunes of close pals
Malvin Kamara and Nick
McKoy have gone in
different directions.
While the lively Kamara,
22, has forced his way into
first-team reckoning – and
was due to start against
Ipswich Town today –
McKoy, 20, is out of favour.
Even with Stephen
McPhail suspended for
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three games and City
stretched to the limit by
summer and went on the
pre-season tour to North
America.
“Things have been going
pretty well,” said Kamara,
“I’ve been going on as
substitute after around 80
minutes and then, against
Stoke City, I went on after
65 minutes.
“It was great to start
against Colchester and I’m
hopeful of doing the same
against Ipswich Town
midfield, but preferred to
switch Joe Ledley from the
left to partner Riccy
Scimeca.
McKoy and Kamara
arrived in South Wales
saying their aim was first-
team football as quickly as
possible. They each have
one-year contracts, but
McKoy has not had much
chance to show what he can
do in matches.
McKoy is from East
when Wimbledon switched
to Milton Keynes and I
wanted to get away,” says
McKoy, who made his
League debut against
Walsall two years ago when
he was still a first-year
scholarship trainee.
“It proved difficult to get
away from Milton Keynes,
but I jumped at the chance
to sign for Cardiff.”
McKoy made 10 first-team
starts for MK Dons plus
the move to Wimbledon.
McNaughton pushing forward edged out for pace and body
strength by a six-year-old
lad!
good form. It came at a
really good time actually; we
had a few drinks, relaxed
“I felt Wimbledon would DAVE Jones was today this season and now That would be a The party will be a change and put the world to rights!
offer more first-team set to spring a major looks certain to add his major blow for the of gear for the Bluebirds Hopefully that will stand us
opportunities, but, looking surprise on team pace and tenacity down experienced Cooper, squad, who flew off after in good stead for facing
back, it probably wasn’t the selection. the flank. who also played for their goalless draw against Ipswich today.
right decision,” says Teenage right-back With Paul Parry manager Jones at Colchester for their own “December is going to be a
Kamara. Chris Gunter has been (thigh injury), Willo Stockport County and Christmas social. It was held hectic month and it will
“I was in the same West drafted into the team Flood (thigh injury) and Wolves. at a country club in the make or break our season.
Ham youth team as Glenn even though both Stephen McPhail Cooper, now fully fit Manchester area – a So we need to boost
Johnson, who went on to Kevin McNaughton and (suspended) all ruled after a knee operation one-night special with all confidence with a win
sign for Chelsea. Alan Wright are fit. out, it was expected at the start of the players back home the next against Ipswich.”
“Both of us were left out That can only mean that Kevin Cooper and season, could certainly TEENAGER =&%
of the youth team at West
Ham because there were so
McNaughton will push
forward into midfield
Malvin Kamara would
be the two wide men.
add extra quality to
deliveries into the box.
McNaughton, though,
will give his role
Glamorgan Hotel and
Spa. They have
Malvin’s happy to stay in the Bay
injuries, McKoy does not today.” London and played for West another 16 appearances as many young players there. where he has played Now it seems Cooper The problem for the everything and get struggled to find 
 )
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seem to figure. McKoy, meanwhile, has Ham’s junior club, West substitute. Glenn stayed, I decided to for both Scotland and could be left out, with Bluebirds now is forward as often as training facilities for a !"#

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Both Kamara and McKoy been unable to force his Hamians, before signing for Kamara started his leave. Aberdeen. Kamara and getting their possible. couple of weeks $
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 37*$!&,#"
joined Cardiff from Milton way out of the reserves. Wimbledon at the age of 13. football trainee days with “Now I have another He has figured at McNaughton holding free-flowing football Yesterday, Cardiff City because of the heavy 
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 *$#:$
Keynes Dons during the City are short in central “I didn’t want to move West Ham before making chance with Cardiff.” NEWCOMER !( full-back on both sides the wide roles. going again. trained at Vale of rain. '""'( (