Liam Lawrence - Stoke City
What a season it has been for Stoke City – with the Potters securing their return to the top flight for the first time in 23 years after clinching second place in the Championship. One of their star performers this term has been Liam Lawrence, who has justifiably been named Player of the Year by the club’s supporters. Indeed, ever since Lawrence arrived at the Britannia Stadium from Sunderland for £500,000 in January 2007, the 26-year-old has become a firm favourite with the fans in the red and white half of the Potteries. Having been part of the Black Cats side that went down from the Premiership with just 15 points, the Republic of Ireland international knows it won't be easy next season but, as givemefootball’s Mark Shail discovered, he is certainly looking forward to the challenge.
Q: CONGRATULATIONS ON WINNING PROMOTION, YOU MUST BE DELIGHTED?
A: If you had spoken to most people at the start of the season they would have settled for a play-off place. To do what we have done is absolutely fantastic.
Q: THE WHOLE TOWN MUST STILL BE BUZZING AFTER LAST WEEKEND?
A: Stoke has gone absolutely metal. It's a real football crazy town and it has gone crazy. You see what it means to the people and the club. To see all their smiles tells you it and if we do stay up we'll do it all over again next year.
Q: HOW DOES THIS PROMOTION COMPARE WITH THE ONE AT SUNDERLAND A FEW YEARS AGO?
A: This one is just massive for me. And in many ways it means more than getting promoted the last time.
Q: YOU MUST BE LOOKING FORWARD TO NEXT SEASON ALREADY?
A: We know some people will consider us cannon fodder and the bookies will make us favourites to go down along with whoever wins the play-offs. It will be a massive fight for us and we know that. We will be favourites to go straight back down and some people won’t give is a prayer. And you can see where they are coming from.
Q: BUT IT'S GOING TO BE TOUGH, ISN'T IT?
A: Next season is going to be incredibly hard but we are going to have to be men about it and give it our best shot. It doesn't bother us what people say about us. Some people cane us, but it has worked. I thought I did okay the last time around in the Premiership but the team struggled and that makes it hard. But we all have to prove ourselves. The hard work has only just started.
Q: I'M SURE YOUR MANAGER TONY PULIS WILL BE GIVEN FUNDS TO STRENGTHEN THE SQUAD?
A: Hopefully the gaffer will be given money to invest in some new players because we need to spend the money in the summer. You need quality in depth to make any kind of impression in the top league or you have no chance. But hopefully with some new players and some investment in the squad, we can give it a real go.
Q: YOU MOST BE HOPING YOUR IMPRESSIVE FORM THIS SEASON WILL PUT YOU IN CONTENTION FOR A RETURN TO THE REPUBLIC OF IRELAND SQUAD?
A: I know that if I do my best for Stoke, and show what I can do, then, maybe, it will get my place back in the Ireland squad. If I can play well with my club, then hopefully that will take care of itself. This is an opportunity for me to see how good I can be.
