What professional footballer nowadays would give up family time on the Thursday before a huge game to talk to an opposition fan group?
Let me introduce you to the model professional & Leicester born & bread sportsman that is Mr Ian Baraclough …..
Name: Ian Baraclough DOB: 04/12/70
Education: Waterleys Primary School (Wigston), Bushloe High School (Wigston) JerseyGuthlaxton Upper School (Wigston)
Did going to Jersey hinder your progress in football? It probably helped. I was at Leicester as an 11/12 year old then left for Jersey & played in Senior Teams at the age of 14 (due to the difference in standard there) which probably helped my physical development. I was able to come back to Leicester City when as a family we returned from Jersey.
Who did you support as a boy? Leicester City (albeit with a bit of an ‘interest’ in Arsenal)
If you hadn’t ended up as a footballer what career/job do you think you’d have been in? Followed most of my brothers into one of the armed forces
How did you end up in Leicester City Youth Team? I was in a County side that lost 7-2 to Leicester City Youth & despite being hammered 7-2 they must have liked something about me!
Who were the other ‘well known’ names in the youth set up at that time? Richard Smith & Paul Kitson (3 out of the 8 players in my year went on to something)…..
Who was in charge of the Youth Team? Dave Richardson (who left for Notts County) then Cyril Lee
Who was in charge of the first team? Brian Hamilton & David Pleat
Did you go out on loan at all whilst at LCFC if so where? Wigan then later Grimsby
When & why did you finally leave LCFC? At the end of my contract Brian Little had just taken over & I was offered a one year deal. Other centre forwards were ahead of me in the ‘pecking order’ and so the writing was on the wall for an ambitious 19/20 year old.
How did it feel? It was a real gut wrench, this was my home town club & I was desperate to make an impression and carve out my career there
Where did you go to next? Grimsby on a 2 year deal (although in the end I only stayed for a year)
What other clubs have you played for? Lincoln (2 years), Mansfield (1 Year), Notts County (3 Years), QPR (3.5 years), Notts County Again (3 Years) & so far nearly 4 seasons at Scunthorpe.
What positions have you played in? Easier to tell you I haven’t played goalkeeper or right wing!
What is your favourite position? Centre Midfield – though it took me about 10 years to realise!
What is the biggest game you’ve played in? Anyone of three, namely: Play Off Final for Notts County (where we lost 2-0 to Bradford), my debut in the FA Cup for Leicester or England under 18’s v Russia in Moscow
What is the best player you’ve played against? Dennis Bergkamp (While I was playing for QPR v Arsenal)
What is the best player who has been in your team (that sounds far better than the best player you’ve played with!) Gary McAllister (or should I have been truthful and said Foxes Trust’s very own Matt Davis while at Waterleys Junior School?)
Who in your opinion is the best football player of all time? In my lifetime (i.e. excluding Best & Pele) then Maradona
Who is the best current footballer? Cristiano Ronaldo
Who is the biggest ‘character’ in any football squad you’ve ever played for? Joint – Vinnie Jones & Razor Ruddock at QPR
Biggest regret in football? I don’t really have any, if I had to say anything then maybe not playing in a different position at LCFC where I might have been noticed more – but then again would I have had as many years to my career if that would have happened?.
Biggest Footballing Influence on you? Without doubt, my dad & brothers
Biggest non footballing influence on you? Again without doubt my dad & brothers
Worst thing in football nowadays? The rise in prominence of referees in the game
Name two rule changes you’d like to see? 1) Phase 1 & 2 offside rule abolished (either you are off side or you are not), & 2) Instant yellow & red cards should be awarded for abusing & foul mouthing to referees
What do you see yourself doing in the future? I am assistant manager here at Scunthorpe & have already got my UEFA B Licence Qualification so in the summer I intend to study my A licence & continue to coach and possibly manage in the future.