It's odd being back says Marsden - exclusive

Last updated : 12 June 2004 By Andy Parsons

In the third part of our exclusive chat with Marsden, the new Owls skipper looks back at his career and how odd it is to be back in Sheffield.

Talking exclusively to Footymad, he admits he really enjoyed playing in South Korea for Buscan Icons under the stewardship of former Owls midfielder and Southampton boss Ian Porterfield but says he had to leave for family reasons.

FM…How was South Korea?

CM…I really enjoyed Korea and I would recommend it to any player to go over there. My wife didn’t enjoy it much but my son loved it, he didn’t have to do much work at school but my wife couldn’t settle and it gets to you in any walk of life when your loved ones are unhappy and you can’t think of just yourself. Football wise, it’s fantastic. The people are very, very polite, the culture is fantastic but when the lure of Wednesday came along I thought ‘that’s it, I’m off back home’, and that’s what happened. As I keep saying I have always wanted to play for Wednesday and I feel very proud and privileged to have been given the chance.

FM…What did Ian Porterfield have to say about Wednesday?

CM…He said it was a fantastic club, he spoke very well of Wednesday. He knew my feelings in regards to how my wife was unsettled and for Wednesday, and although the negotiations were dragged out a long way, the clubs agreed to the transfer and here I am.

FM…How difficult was it leaving Saints?

CM…It was very difficult because I had a fantastic time down there, especially playing in the FA Cup final and in European competition, but things soon changed. I don’t think I was going to be offered a new contract, they said they would offer me one but they didn’t, that’s football and you shouldn’t believe anything until it is in front of you. I had offers with other Premiership clubs but it would never have been the same after Southampton and the only English club I would have played for after Saints was Wednesday, that goes to show how strong my feelings were for the club down there. But once you are a fan of a club, like I am of Wednesday, when you get the chance to play for your boyhood club that’s what dreams are all about.

FM…How was it playing against Wednesday during your time at Southampton?

CM…Obviously you want to win for the team you are playing for, you want to play well and prove to everyone that you are a good player. I played for Southampton the year Wednesday were relegated from the Premiership, we won 1-0 and Gilles de Bilde missed a penalty at Hillsborough but it is days like that when one decisive moment can win a game. But it is going to be a hard season now I am finally here, we have to do well and try and get out of this division, Wednesday have no right to be in the Premiership or first division, they have earn that right and we have a fantastic fan base and if we do well, those fans will turn out in numbers and being a Sheffield lad, when things are going right, the fans are very passionate.

FM…What is it like finally returning to Sheffield?

CM…Coming back to Sheffield has been a little bit weird to be honest. Things have changed in 20 years, new things have sprung up all over the place, even the National Centre for Popular Music, and I don’t know anything about music! I don’t know if I will finish my career here as I believe I have a few years left in me yet but I feel very privileged to be back here.

FM…What’s the plan for this summer for yourself?

CM…Apart from going to the gym, I am of to Cyprus for eleven days where I will meet Chris Turner, who is currently there and we will have a game of golf, and then we are back in training on the 24th of July for one day then report fully back on the 1st of June.

Many thanks to Chris for the time he put in to do this article.