28 July 2005
Mark Noble: Interview

West Ham United's Mark Noble talks to TheFA.com from inside the England base at the European U19 Championship.


England v France
UEFA European U19 Championship, Final
Windsor Park, Belfast
29 July 2005, 7pm

Mark Noble is hoping to use England's success at the European U19 Championship as a springboard for the Premiership.

Noble was in the side that beat Serbia and Montenegro in Tuesday's semi-final and he will be aiming for victory in the final against France.

"Being a year younger I played in the Under-17s Championship last year and we got knocked out in the semi-final," Noble told TheFA.com. "So this year with the squad we've got and the coaching staff I think we can go all the way."

Noble is still on a high after helping West Ham United to promotion through the play-offs.

"I didn't want to stop playing, I just wanted to keep going," the midfielder continued. "I knew we had four weeks off after the play-off final but I felt like I didn't want to break up and go on holiday - I wanted to keep playing and get into the Premiership straight away.

"I started around Christmas time and I played quite a few games. It was just a brilliant experience - to have that experience at such a young age will never leave me."

After the excitement of a promotion season comes the reward of Premiership football but what is Noble most looking forward to next season?

"Having big teams like Liverpool and Manchester United coming to Upton Park, because obviously I used to go and watch them there.

"Seeing Joey [Cole] and Michael Carrick and playing against those players, learn from the experience and come to the U19 Championships next year and use all my experience for that squad."