Pages

Thursday, May 08, 2008

Former QPR (and Arsenal and England) Goalie David Seaman Profiled and Interviewed

-
Great goalie, but QPR fans are probably a little ambivalent about Seaman, given how he left the club. Good interview, but perhaps not quite as memorable as some of the other interviews with most of the other interviews conducted by the official site

QPR Official Site - David Seaman
In our latest instalment of exclusive past player interviews on www.qpr.co.uk, former R's goalkeeper David Seaman comes under the spotlight.
Goalkeeping legend David Seaman has saluted Rangers for giving him his initial launch-pad to international stardom.
Seaman was an R's player when he won the first three of his 75 England caps. So looking back on a magnificent career, he feels indebted to the Super Hoops.
"My life in football seemed to take off at Loftus Road," he told www.qpr.co.uk.
"I made my England debut against Saudi Arabia in 1988/89, which was fantastic for me and for Rangers as well. Then I was in the 1990 World Cup squad and all my work at QPR put me in there. So I have nothing but fond memories from my spell with the R's."
Seaman signed for Rangers from Birmingham City at the age of 22 in 1986. He played 175 matches in a four-year spell at Loftus Road.
"My biggest decision about joining QPR was whether or not I wanted to play on the plastic pitch!" said Seaman.
"To be fair, it wasn't the best of synthetic surfaces.
"I can remember going to Chairman Jim Gregory's office with the Rangers boss Jim Smith to complete my transfer. I felt really intimidated by it all, but we got everything done in the end. They both said they were really happy to recruit me so that was good to know.
"Then I had a really 'nice' introduction to the QPR ground. After making my debut, I came out and found that my car had been broken into! I remember thinking 'Oh dear!'
"But apart from that, Loftus Road is brilliant because the fans are right on top of you. It was something I wasn't used to before I signed. The stands are quite steep too so you get a marvellous atmosphere.
"One of my favourite matches for QPR was a Simod Cup tie at Watford in 1989. It finished 1-1 after extra-time and then went to a shoot-out. I just remember the spot-kicks as I stopped four of them. That's not a bad feat is it? So I did have a record of saving penalties before Euro 96!
"I can also recall playing in a terrific 3-1 win over Chelsea at Loftus Road in 1987. Gary Bannister scored a hat-trick and the R's fans were delighted as there was quite a lot of rivalry in that local derby.
"Bannister used to amaze me. He had one leg that was a lot shorter than the other, but he could smack the ball in with either foot and he was a deadly finisher.
"We had a really good side at Queens Park Rangers in those days. We finished fifth in the League in 1988 and I had some lovely times there."
A £1.3 million move to Arsenal followed in July 1990. It was the record fee for a British goalkeeper at the time.
Nowadays, 44 year-old Seaman has reinvented himself as a genial media personality. And he wishes Rangers well for a successful future.
"At the moment, I am doing the Dancing On Ice tour. It is nice to just sit back a bit and not get too much into football. I can sample life as a normal guy - taking the kids to school and spending time with my wife.
"I was married before with two young children and I can hardly remember them growing up. I was trying to build my goalkeeping career when they were youngsters. I was always out, staying in different hotels, playing in far-flung towns and foreign countries. So it was hard.
"Now I am really enjoying family life. I look forward to the school holidays when we can all jet off somewhere and have a relaxing break.
"But I will be getting back involved in football eventually with some specialised coaching. I will probably launch a David Seaman Goalkeeping School for young people.
"In the meantime, I think the new investment at QPR is brilliant for the Club. I have a great family friend called Sharon Dyer who is mad on Rangers. She always keep me in touch with what is going on over there. So, things look really exciting for next season at Loftus Road and the years to come hopefully." QPR