The Phoenix Darren Huckerby: 'We weren't afraid of anyone'

[When The Sky Was Blue]

Yes, things are tough this season, so shall we just think back to brighter times? I interviewed Darren Huckerby recently and he spoke at length about his time with Cov.

It's on The Phoenix, but some highlights for you:

Huckerby on how he would stay late after training (at the insistence of Strachan) with Dion to work on their partnership: ‘You’re out there when everyone else has gone home and you're thinking, “What am I doing this for?” But then it's only later on down the line that you realise how important it was.’

His iconic winner against Man Utd: ‘Did I think about taking it to the corner flag? Nah, never. I might have done that when I was a bit older maybe when I was like 28 or 29.'

He was another Cov player gutted to leave. You look from the outside and see it as a big-money move to Leeds but this wasn't something he pushed for.

You can read it right here: Darren Huckerby: 'We weren't afraid of anybody

 

[Nick]

I think that's a bit of our issue nowadays, although we were in relegation battles then the whole "we didn't fear anybody" attitude seems the opposite to what we have now.

I remember Huckerby saying that he didn't want to go on the Sky Documentary but the club made up their mind and wanted the money.

Also, he enjoys scoring against Forest because he is from there so is he a Notts County fan?

 

[When The Sky Was Blue]

I think that's a bit of our issue nowadays, although we were in relegation battles then the whole "we didn't fear anybody" attitude seems the opposite to what we have now.

I remember Huckerby saying that he didn't want to go on the Sky Documentary but the club made up their mind and wanted the money.

Also, he enjoys scoring against Forest because he is from there so is he a Notts County fan?

Yes, that is a big difference. We played with fear against Arsenal, for sure. Maybe just the fact that we always seemed to hang in there gave us that fighting spirit back then.

I think Huckerby's time was done once Dion was sold. A shame as he still had plenty to give. I wouldn't have minded seeing him on the left wing in that Entertainers team.

 

[Brighton Sky Blue]

Alongside Dublin, he was one of my boyhood football heroes and I was gutted when they left. Players who got me hooked on football for life

 

[When The Sky Was Blue]

Alongside Dublin, he was one of my boyhood football heroes and I was gutted when they left. Players who got me hooked on football for life

That Dion-Huckerby partnership - just incredible. That 98 season Dion scored 18 league goals, won the golden boot and got an England call up. Huckerby scored 14 but didn't get a look in.

 

[Shannerz]

I think Huckerby's time was done once Dion was sold. A shame as he still had plenty to give. I wouldn't have minded seeing him on the left wing in that Entertainers team.

He and Whelan did ok together that season.

 

[When The Sky Was Blue]

He and Whelan did ok together that season.

They did, and an underrated job as he could have easily slipped down the table after Dion left. But, I do think selling Dion had a massive impact on him (on and off the pitch).

 

[Brighton Sky Blue]

That Dion-Huckerby partnership - just incredible. That 98 season Dion scored 18 league goals, won the golden boot and got an England call up. Huckerby scored 14 but didn't get a look in.

Those two plus McAllister going were I think fatal for top flight status, they brought character and quality to the side which wasn’t replaced.

 

[When The Sky Was Blue]

Those two plus McAllister going were I think fatal for top flight status, they brought character and quality to the side which wasn’t replaced.

100%. Strachan said as much when I interviewed him - it was the loss of leaders that did us eventually. He signed quality players (although some didn't show their quality with us) but lost the characters. And one of the big characters that we did sign (Carlton Palmer) had a huge fall out with Strachan.