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February 7, 2003
(Friday)
A Woody interview
JONATHAN WOODGATE has
admitted for the first time that he had to cast
off his lifestyle to save his career.
Newcastle's new £9
million centre-half plummeted to the depths of
depression after being found guilty of affray following an attack on
asian student Safraz Najeeb in Oct 2001
Woodgate, unlike team mate Lee Bowyer who was found not guilty at the
same trial, was unable to even turn out for Leeds Utd around the time
of the court case.
And speaking to the
SP he has revealed the soul-searching he went
through to fight back from the worst experience of his life to become
the second most expensive English defender in history. "I had to look
in the mirror," he said. "I thought to myself, I'm either going to go
one way or the other."
"I knew I had to
change things round and not do things I used to. I
have learned a big lesson of my life."
"I always knew I'd
come back a stronger person. What doesn't kill you
makes you stronger. And I believe I have come back a stronger person
for it and definitely a better footballer as well."
"My family are really
pleased now that I have moved to Newcastle. It
has been hectic for me. I didn't have a clue what was going on. I was
in the gym doing some weights when my agent called me and said the
bid had been accepted.
I love Leeds, my heart is at Leeds but my head is at Newcastle. If
Leeds had not accepted a bid I would not have put a transfer request
in. But I'm at a new club now, and looking forward to it."
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