Meet …..
Darren Byfield
The 33 year old former Aston Villa, Rotherham, Gillingham, Milwall striker now enjoying his second experience as a Walsall talisman tells me about playing along side a global superstar, scoring in the play off final and his toughest ever opponent.
Growing up as an Aston Villa fan, I remember hearing about Darren Byfield as a star of the future. But coming through at Villa the same time as future England international Darius Vassell did not exactly do him any favours. Even though his time as a professional at Villa Park was brief, it still did not prevent him from briefly being part of one of the most unlikely strike partnerships in history.
“The best player I ever played with was Brazil’s Ronaldo” he said remarkably.
“While I was coming through the ranks at Aston Villa, the Brazil national team used the facilities at Villa. They had a practice match amongst themselves and three of the youth lads – me, Lee Hendrie and a lad called Ben Petty – were picked to join in. I played up front with Ronaldo. What a talent he was back then” he stated.
Somewhat an understatement to describe one of the greatest players the game the world has ever seen. But there were other influences on Byfield as a young player.
“I’m an Arsenal fan, so it’s between Thierry Henry and Ian Wright. As a striker, you always look up to players who play in y our position. Henry and Wrighty were two of the best forwards every to pull on an Arsenal shirt.”
Like his two heroes, Byfield has scored one or two important goals over the course of his career. The most notable of which was a play-off final winner in his first spell at Walsall against Reading, which got Walsall promoted to the old first division.
“What a day that was. Got to be my favourite ever goal” he announced proudly.
That first spell at Walsall was not always so plain sailing, as is proven by one of his tougher days at the office when another future England international was at the caused him a headache.
“In my first spell at Walsall, we played West Ham United. Rio Ferdinand was with them then and he was immense. It’s the only time in my whole career that I’ve thought during a game ‘I’m not going to get past you’. He was class” he said emphatically.
Since those earlier days, Byfield’s career has taken him to places such as Gillingham, Milwall and Rotherham with mixed personal and club success, but despite that he maintains an admirable passion for a game where the stars on the pitch live in a different world to those who adore them in the stands.
“You can’t beat playing football for a living. Simple” he said passionately. “Match days are special, preparing for a game and then playing in front of fans, that’s a special feeling.”
And while he maintains that desire, it’s clear that Byfield will go on scoring goals for a long time to come.
