Welcome back to Finn Park where tonight we play host to UCD. I got the chance to chat with Josh Cullen for this week’s edition of Player’s Voice.
Cullen has represented the Academy through to under-17 before making his senior debut earlier this season.
I started by asking how he was finding the move to senior football given he is only 16-years old he is one of the youngest players in the entire division:
Yeah to be fair I’ve enjoyed the step up to senior football so far. I knew it wouldn’t be an easy step up from academy football as it’s a physical league and if you’re not ready to work hard on and off the pitch you’ll be left behind. All the lads have been sound too which is a good help.
What was your experience going through the Harps academy through multiple age groups?
So I came to Harps at u10 level and played with the academy teams all the way till national league level at u14s.
I enjoyed that stint as we attended a lot of tournaments and to be fair competed well in them. Then it was into national league level with the u14s,15s and 17s and now this is my first year at senior level.
Having various different coaches throughout the years up to this point has been a great learning experience as they all had different personalities and outlooks of the game and it’s been an enjoyable journey so far.
Has it been helpful for you to have Kevin McHugh in the dugout given he is head of the academy?
Yeah to be fair it is good having Kevin in the dugout as he is a manager that isn’t afraid to throw young players into the mix and that for me is a huge confidence booster stepping out onto the pitch.
Do you have any objectives you’d like to achieve during this season?
I’d just like to try and stay consistent throughout the season, play well and keep clean sheets week in week out, maybe an odd goal or two would be nice also.
Finally, I asked Josh a player he looks up to and aims to model his game off as he continues to ply his trade.
Personally I enjoy watching Virgil Van Dijk. I think he is a great role model for young centre backs as he’s just such a big presence who reads the game well, is composed on the ball and is just a great defender all round.