Q&A With… Bryn Halliwell
The newest member of the website team, Ryan Kyle continued his ‘Q & A’ series this evening when he caught up with returning ‘keeper Bryn Halliwell.
The popular Englishman has helped Clyde pick up four points in the last week and managed to secure a clean sheet against Berwick on Tuesday.
Thanks to Bryn for taking the time to talk to Ryan and www.clydefc.co.uk after training tonight.
RK: How does it feel to be back at Clyde?
BH: It’s really good. It felt weird walking back in the doors and into the home dressing room but it’s good to be back. I’m a Liverpool fan so I look at their results first but the next result I look at is Clyde. The last couple of years have been filled with doom and gloom, especially this year. When I played against Clyde at the start of the season, I was telling everyone Clyde would win the league and it would be onwards and upwards but it’s been the complete opposite. Hopefully things are looking up now.
How are you settling into the squad?
I haven’t really had time to get to know everyone but everyone’s been really welcoming. I found out on Thursday about the move and by Friday it was done. Then came Saturday and it would’ve been nice to get the three points but we put in a good performance, as we did on Tuesday.
Speaking of Saturday, it was unlucky to only get a point…
I think there were a lot of nerves from everyone, especially from myself in the first half. I don’t know if we were trying too hard for the new gaffer and the fans but we settled down in the second half and it was just unfortunate. A couple of months ago we might have lost but we didn’t. Four points out of six is a great start for any manager.
How are you enjoying working under Jim Duffy and Chic Charnley?
It’s been a bit of a whirlwind because tonight’s really the first night I’ve taken part in training, with it being my first opportunity since joining. Jim speaks really well and has done a lot in the game. I can only see him doing well with Clyde. The boys at Thistle have told me about Chic. He’s a character and he’s got great stories – in fact he was telling stories before training tonight! It’s a good mix and the boys are loving it. It doesn’t matter about his history with Thistle, he’s affiliated with Clyde now and we’re going in the right direction.
Having spent five successful years at Clyde previously, was it a hard decision to come back given the club’s decline?
It wasn’t a hard decision at all. I was told that Clyde were interested and straight away I was thinking about it. Another couple of clubs from the Second Division came in but I thought to myself, ‘you know what, it’s time to go back to where it started’. There’s seven games in the month and we’ll see what happens after that.
Do you have any regrets about leaving Clyde back in 2005?
At the end of the day, the five years were fantastic for me here. I made a lot of good friends and we had a lot of good times. The way it ended though, we knew things weren’t right when the manager spoke to us, but that’s water under the bridge now. I wouldn’t have had the career I have had if it wasn’t for Clyde and it is just good to be back.
The boys got a good win on Tuesday night, how did you rate the performance?
It’s quite funny that we played like that considering we’re rock bottom of the Third Division. Going forward we looked really good and defensively we did well so it was a good win, but we’re not getting carried away. We’ll just keep building and see where it takes us.
The fans were very vocal in the games against both Elgin and Berwick, do you feel that helped the players?
Definitely. I think there was a bigger crowd there on Saturday and they got right behind us, even when we let in the goals. Then, on Tuesday, I think the crowd was pretty small from Berwick but the Clyde fans were fantastic and it spurred us on. We’re just delighted and taking every game as it comes.
Is it a confidence boost to hear the fans singing your name again?
On Saturday my first half was dire. I just got too hyped up about coming back, wanting to impress the new gaffer and my head was full of broken bottles. In the second half I had the penalty save and that was great. On Tuesday I was back to normal so it’s onwards and upwards.
You played with Ryan MacBeth at Partick Thistle. What do you think he’ll bring to the squad?
He’s been out injured for a while so this move is doing him the world of good. He’s had two 90 minute games and the more he plays the more you’ll see that he has loads of energy, good feet and he’s a good lad. He’s still a little bit away from where he wants to be but that will come with games as he’s been out for a long time. I don’t know what’s happening for him at the end of the season so he’ll be playing for a contract, whether it be with Thistle or elsewhere. He’ll definitely bring something different and you’ll see the best out of him.
It’s Arbroath on Saturday, are you looking forward to it?
Arbroath are top of the league and they’re flying high so I think everyone’s expecting us to go and get steamrolled. The last two games at home have been great so we’ll be going up there and whatever will be will be. We’re just delighted that the games are coming thick and fast and we’re absolutely buzzing for Saturday.
Any message for the supporters?
Just keep sticking by the boys like you’ve been doing through thick and thin. It’s been a bit of a horrible season but we’ve got four points from the last two games and the club is going in the right direction.