Josh Blunkell | New Signing Interview | 21.01.2025

New signing Josh Blunkell discusses joining the Marketmen and making his debut on Saturday. 

DK: First of all, welcome to Needham, can you tell us how the move came about? 

JB: I had spoken to Marco as I was eager to play football and if there was any opportunity’s. I had spoken to Tom a couple times, and from my time at Sudbury I knew Needham Market was an unbelievable club on the up, it was a no brainier for me. 

DK: What inspired you to want to sign for us? 

JB: I knew from past times playing against Needham how good the club really is! How good the fans are and the club is full of great people. I don’t wanna just play for the club I wanna play for the team, the people who work hard day in day out to make the club the club it is.  

DK: Having played against us before, how did you find your debut for us on Saturday? 

JB: Yh was buzzing to be starting I thought it was a really good game, it was disappointing not to get all 3 points but all the boys want to work hard, to keep getting result. 

DK: How would you summarise your career so far? 

JB: It’s been a rollercoaster of highs lows but I just want to keep working hard, Keeping your head down. I am just eager to keep developing for my self and the team. 

DK: Can you pick 3 highlights from your career that stand out? 

JB: That’s a difficult one I have had lots of great opportunities so far, I would say signing my first professional contract at Wycombe was amazing, playing for Sudbury in the FA Cup against Colchester was amazing day and a great opportunity for my last I would say the Fa youth cup for Sudbury again AFC Wimbledon.

DK: Can you put into words what it felt like to be a professional footballer at Wycombe?

JB: Where to start I was so proud to be there it was a great opportunity, I was living my dream, there was great people there to learn off people who had previous experiences of competing in higher levels such as the Premier League. 

REACTION | Evan Gledhill, Brad Smith Post Match Interviews | 18.01.2025 | Swaffham Town v Needham Market Reserves |

Defender Brad Smith reflects on yesterday's win at Swaffham Town for the Reserves. 

DK: Congratulations on a massive win away from home, you must be buzzing with the result and team performance?

BS: Thanks mate, yeah buzzing with the result it was a huge game for us and a very much needed 3 points, it was a different type of game for us lads we had to adapt to playing a more direct style of play on a poor surface so the team did really well to adapt in that sense. 

DK: Equally a brilliant day for you, keeping a clean sheet as part of a CB partnership with your brother? 

BS: Yeah it’s always a lovely extra to keep a clean sheet on top of 3 points and to do that playing next to your brother is always going to be special and I feel like with a few players out the whole back line upped our game massively and showed we all have the versatility to play in slightly different positions to what we might normally be so it was a great clean sheet.

DK: Having played a few games together already in defence, where does this rank in your personal footballing achievements so far?

BS: Yeah it’s a good achievement a nice moment for my family personally sure mum and dad would’ve loved seeing me and Ben playing next to eachother so as a personal achievement it’s high up the order.

 

DK: After scoring 12 unanswered goals in a less than 48 hours, both personally and as a team you must be full of confidence? 

BS: Yeah its been a great week for the lads again putting a statement out on Thursday night in the 18s league and then today showing we don’t deserve to be in the position we are in the league and that we’ve still got a lot left to play for in the second half of the season. 

DK: Another massive game next week, at home to Haverhill Borough, what type of game are you expecting?

BS: Another huge game for us in a lower half of the table scrap a game that we need to win to get ourselves out the situation we are in at the moment. I’m expecting a similar sort of game to today and hopefully the lads can put together another good performance and get the result we need.

Hat-trick hero Evan Gledhill discusses yesterday's win on the road. 

DK: Congratulations on a massive win away from home, you must be buzzing with the result and team performance?

EG: Yeah absolutely buzzing with the result, we knew that we needed to get a result today to carry on our good form. The lads had to dig deep at the start of the second half but once we weathered the storm the goals start flowing. 

DK: Equally a brilliant day for you, netting an important hat-trick, you must be proud?

EG: Yeah really good feeling getting my first hatrick in men’s football and it’s a real confidence boost and hopefully can take that into the next game. 

DK: Talk us through your 3 goals today, and what was going through your mind when you completed your hat-trick?

EG: I feel like the 3 goals where at very important time the first one came when we was applying a lot of pressure in the first half and we creating chances so was good to get the first goal in the game. The second I thought was the most important one as it was a quite nervy game at this point as it was only 1-0 and Swaffham were creating some chances and so was good to get the 2 goal advantage after a great cross from Adz and the third goal was like the cherry on the cake making it 4-0 and sealing the hat-trick. 

DK: After scoring 12 unanswered goals in a less than 48 hours, both personally and as a team you must be full of confidence? 

EG: Yeah 2 great results for the lads in the last 48hours and will give us loads of confidence going into the next week of games with a tough game against Wanderers for the u18s on Wednesday and a must win game against Haverhill on the Saturday. 

DK: How have you found this season, personally? 

EG: Personally for me this season playing for the reserves I have really enjoyed the challenge of men’s football and I feel like me and the lads have learnt so much and are now deservingly getting results. 

DK: Another massive game next week, at home to Haverhill Borough, what type of game are you expecting?

EG: Yeah, I think Haverhill will be a tough game but being at home which is where I think we play are best football I think we will be able to get the job done. We know that they aren’t a bad side and very young team like ourselves so will be a very energetic fast paced game but hopefully we can pick up another 3 points. 

Danny Cullum | 04.01.2025 |

Goalkeeper Danny Cullum talks about his time with the club ahead of leaving for America. 

DK: How did you find your time with us both personally and as a team, plenty of memorable moments to look back on?

DC: I loved every minute of my time here, from the first session in preseason. They took me in very well personally, and looked after me. Which was very good. They did have to put up with my music in the changing room so they may be happier it’s not me anymore😂. Yeh loads of memorable moments. Turning up at Curzon, first game to be involved with at step 2 for myself and the majority of the team which was good we all shared them moments together. 

DK: You must especially be proud looking back on the back to back away wins at Warrington and Hereford - both personally and as a team?

DC: ⁠Yeh that was a very special few days those back to back away wins. Especially stepping in last minute at Warrington, being a part of the first win and then couple days later to go do it infront of a couple thousand people in a nice stadium was extra special. Yeh the Hereford game will always be a highlight in my career. Just a special night as a whole for myself and the team and those amazing people who traveled down and supported us. 

DK: Both spells you had in the team you didn't have much notice, and yet looked as cool as a cucumber, were there any nerves inside at those moments?

DC: ⁠I always know what works for me and how I prepare for games. More or less the same routine. Which works for me. After the warm up in that changing room is where I’m at the most nervous, but getting the first pass or save off I feel gets me involved in the game. But yes, I get very nervous every game I play no matter who I play against, but always comes down to believing in myself and trusting what I do. 

DK: Following on from that, your penalty save against Chester comes to mind, can you remember much of what was going through your mind as that all happened?

DC: ⁠It was all like a shock, but i knew we was in the 90th minute. There was no rush to me getting on. So I took my time kept myself cool. Didn’t worry about what could happen. I just remember Tom saying ‘No pressure’ and I chuckled to myself and that gave some reassurance and confidence to go try my best and keep it out the back of the net. 

DK: Do any particular saves standout to you that you made, if so which ones and why?

DC: ⁠Yes, my save from a header versus Hereford. I can remember as I checked my shoulder, and saw the player number 10 Williams, it’s like time slowed down and I remember him heading the ball downwards and my leg being in the correct place. Getting up after and looking over my left shoulder and seeing a packed out stand. Made me feel good and turned out to be crucial save in the win. 

DK: What did you enjoy most during your time with us?

DC: ⁠The social kind of side, the journeys to games, the changing room before games. Just general talk, it’s all good. Good laughs in there as well. We all know who gives it out the most.  

DK: After the memorable win at Leamington, you were selected in the overall TOTW, how proud were you to be recognised in such a way?

DC: I just remember eating my lunch and then see I’ve been tagged in a post. Opened and saw it was team of the week. Felt amazing to be recognised. But must say the team that day was excellent.

DK: All the best with your scholarship in America, you must be relishing a new adventure?

DC: Thank you, yeh I’ve been playing and at Ipswich since I was 8 years old. So when the opportunity to go to America arrived and after consideration I loved the idea of it. Months and months of planning to all of a sudden it being the time to go. I’m upset I have to leave Needham because I would definitely stay the season but the Americans do it different. So unfortunately my time was cut short