9 minute read
Simon Power Interview
SIMON POWER
With lightning-quick pace enough to frighten any professional footballer or reality TV star, Simon Power has had a promising start to his Town career, and at the age of just 22-years-old, this is only the beginning...
By Henry Whitaker
BORN IN THE IRISH TOWN OF GREYSTONES, just south of Dublin, Power grew up with the dream many young Irish lads have, to make it across the water to play football in England.
At a young age, he played for his local side Greystones United where Power first learned the fundamentals of the game and found enjoyment kicking a ball around a field.
By 11-years-old, Power had moved onto St Joseph Boys who were a bigger team and played at the highest level for Power’s age group. Training 3-4 times a week, the intensity was increased for the youngster and since St Joseph Boys acted as a feeder team for English clubs, there were eyes on him.
However, Power didn’t enjoy that intensity in his early teenage years and returned to Greystones before changing his mindset when he turned 16.
“I realised I could potentially have a career when I turned 15/16 years-old,” Power explains. “I was starting to develop physically and my game was improving big time. It was something I definitely wanted to achieve and the help and praises of those around me encouraged me to pursue that. It’s every young Irish lad’s dream to get across the border and play in England.”
At 16, Power joined Cabinteely FC which was another step up and the moment where he started to get his head down and dedicate his time to becoming a footballer.
The Irishman explains that in Ireland, most aspiring footballers get the move across to England at 16-years-old, so now was the moment to put everything into it.
Power heard rumours that Premier League and Championship clubs were interested but
unfortunately, nothing materialised and Power continued to play football in his home country.
He admits that at this point he had “lost a bit of hope” as he says it’s rare to see youngsters over the age of 18 goes across to England and become a success. Nonetheless, Power powered on playing but this time with University College Dublin (UCD) and it’s where his career began to make important strides forward.
Power was playing with the Irish national youth teams which gave him experience playing against better players as well as with them, West Ham midfielder Declan Rice being a standout name. It was the added motivation Power needed to keep his dream of playing in England alive.
Now nearing 19 years-old, Power signed with a footballing agency and it led to scouts taking a keener interest in the winger. One of the clubs to show significant interest was Norwich City, as Power explains.
“While still playing for UCD, we won the final of the competition. I’m sure my agent got a scout to come to look at me in that game and it was one of the best I’ve played. I scored two, won the trophy and it was then that Norwich got in contact with me, along with a few other clubs.”
Power was set for a few trials with the first being Norwich. That one went ahead and the winger impressed the Norwich hierarchy so much that they told him they wanted him to join as soon as the January transfer window opened. It meant the other trials were cancelled and Power signed for the East Anglian side in January 2018.
That childhood dream to play in England had now become reality.
“There was a range of emotions after I signed. I was relieved, excited and proud because I kept working hard and kept my head down behind the scenes.” Power continues, “I have to give Cabinteely and UCD a lot of credit as, without them, I wouldn’t have got the move to Norwich. They gave me the platform to showcase my talent. From being in a small town in Greystones, you rarely see people come out and make that move so I was immensely proud of myself to get there, it was just a dream come true to me.”
Power was now a professional footballer for the first time in his life and that first drive into Norwich’s training ground was a moment that left him “starstruck”.
However, there was no time to stay like that as the hard work was just beginning. Power spent his first year with the Norwich under 23s side and it was all about focusing and developing to try to make it into the first team. With the standards set by Norwich, there was no room for disappointment or bad performances.
In January 2019, Power had done enough to earn himself a loan move to Dutch side Dordrecht. Only a select few from the Norwich academy had been sent out to Holland, one being Todd Cantwell who’s now a regular in their first team.
Power’s loan move lasted six months and he found himself in and out of the team which just wasn’t enough. He returned briefly to Norwich before heading way up North to Ross County in July 2019, in what Power describes as “another culture shock”.
“It wasn’t a successful loan for me,” he admits. I injured my hamstring at the start of the season and I couldn’t get back into the team. On top of that, it’s about four hours north of Edinburgh and Glasgow which made it a difficult loan all round for me.”
The unsuccessful move led to Norwich recalling the winger and he dropped down to the National League North before the end of January 2020. The loan move to Kings Lynn was an opportunity for Power to rebuild some confidence and form which had gone missing.
Power admits that he was a “little reluctant” to move down to the division but didn’t really know what to expect.
“It’s a drop from to Scottish Premiership to NonLeague but honestly though, I didn’t know what to expect. Once I actually got there, it wasn’t that bad at all. We had some really good players and did well. There would be success for Power and his teammates as a curtailed 2019/20 season saw Kings Lynn promoted to the National League on points per game. Power would return to The Linnets for the start of this season and found playing in that side allowed him to enjoy his football. “The lads there were spot on and once I’m in a good dynamic, I thrive and play my best football. My style of play and pace was something Kings Lynn didn’t have and I brought some excitement for the fans. They really got behind me and when that happens, my confidence goes through the roof and it’s why I did well there.” Playing at that level put him on a stage that many Football League managers look at. It meant that when returning to Norwich, crunch talks were needed. “I wasn’t too sure where my future was,” Power admits. “I asked Norwich where I stood and they told me I wasn’t going to get a contract. It was a bitter pill to swallow at the time as I wanted to be a success there and make my way into the first team but it didn’t work out. On the plus side though, I had done really well at Kings Lynn so English Football League teams were wanting my signature. It’s a mad industry,” he adds. “I couldn’t have done much better with Kings Lynn but it just wasn’t enough for the people at Norwich.”
January 2021 comes around and Power is now on the end of serious interest from sides in League Two. One of them was Harrogate Town, who had already done business with Norwich for the loan signing of midfielder William Hondermarck.
With clubs to choose from, Power opens up that with his former teammate already in North Yorkshire, it aided his decision to sign for Town.
“I had other clubs in League Two looking at me but when I sat down with the people at Norwich
they told me William Hondermarck was going to Harrogate and that helped as I know him and have played with him. I had a good few phone calls with the Gaffer and he explained what it was like with Harrogate and he said I’d get game time. They were looking for more youth in the team and with my attributes, he saw me as someone who could hurt a lot of teams in the league. It’s worked out perfectly, everything he has said has come true and it’s been the perfect move to come here.”
Since arriving, Power has made eight appearances in total, scoring against Crawley Town and playing a huge part in an upturn in results for Simon Weaver’s side.
The Irishman puts some of that strong start down to how easily he’s been able to settle and fit into the group.
“I feel like this is the quickest I’ve ever settled into a club,” Power admits. “I’ve had numerous moves but the dynamic and buzz here is just something I’ve never experienced before. Once I played a few games and the lads saw what I could do, it helped to break the ice and settle in quicker.”
Powers move to Harrogate has been different from others in the fact that he’s signed during a pandemic when going out and taking in your new surroundings just isn’t the same.
For the first few weeks, Power, along with the rest of Weaver’s new signings were all staying in a hotel and it meant that although there wasn’t too much to do, it allowed the new lads to bond. Power has now moved out of the hotel and into his own place, ready to knuckle down and help push Harrogate up the table.
“I’m giving 100% each game and hopefully I can chip in with a few more goals and we can climb up the table as we have in the last few games. I’m extremely positive about the future with this team. From the few games I’ve played, they’ve all been top half teams and we’ve got a result from most of them. That can only fill me and the team with the confidence to kick on.”
