Noel Blake discusses his memories of 2013, and hopes and ambitions for 2014...
Most memorable moment of 2013...
I think the highlight of the year for me has to be to see the senior team qualify for the World Cup, without a shadow of a doubt. I think that’s really important for the game itself, for the country. It was quite a tricky group and you always have to wonder whether you’ll make it or not – so I think that’s the most important thing for us as a country from my point of view.
Favourite game you watched this year?
I’ve seen so many games this year it’s very hard to pick one out in particular. Although if pushed I would say an Italian game I saw a couple of weeks ago between Roma and AC Milan – I thought it was an outstanding game. As well as English football I watch a lot of continental football and I really enjoyed that match, the standard and quality of play from both sides was so high throughout. It ended 2-2 and it was a great game for the neutral.
Standout player(s)?
I wouldn’t like to comment on individuals within the current [England U19] group, but if we go back to the previous year group, the ’94 group, I would say the one that really stood out was James Ward-Prowse – him and John Stones had fantastic year. I’d also put Nathan Redmond in that group, who was also exceptional for us. They were certainly the three that performed consistently well and they are all getting rewarded for it now and getting regular game time in the Premier League.
Away from football, what's been the highlight of 2013 for you?
Well I’m a big cricket fan and obviously the England team winning the Ashes convincingly last summer was a big highlight for me, it was an outstanding feat. I would also put the British Lions victory in Australia up there as well. I know how difficult it is when you go abroad in to other country’s back yards – it’s incredibly tough to win and their achievement to win the final test and stopping the Australian momentum was very special.
What was the best film you watched this year?
Well, I don’t do modern films. I’m a bit of a stickler for the old black and white pictures – I’ve seen a lot of John Wayne movies this year on DVDs, so I’d say any John Wayne film or a black and white classic. I don’t do all that modern blood and thunder stuff. It’s all about the old westerns for me!
Song of the year…
That’s a tough one. I’m into all sorts of music really – although I was listening to my favourite artist a little bit earlier as I was driving - and that is Bob Marley. I’ve listened to a lot of him this year so I’d probably have to say something by him. I think my favourite one by him is ‘Three Little Birds’ which has the line ‘don’t worry about a thing, because every little thing is gonna be alright’ which is a really positive message.
What are your aims and ambitions for 2014…
My personal one is to stay healthy – both myself and my family, that goes without saying. From a professional point of view, obviously there was a bit of disappointment with last year’s U19s group not making the finals, so that’s something I hope to put right in 2014 from a work point of view. Ultimately if the U19s qualify for the finals in July, it puts us in with a chance of qualifying for the U20 World Cup in New Zealand in 2015 – so that’s a big ambition for all of us.
But again, going back to the senior team, we just want to see the senior team have a good World Cup – I link those two hopes for the year together. We’ve also got a big year ahead for the U17s as well. So it’s a big year ahead.
