CATCHING UP WITH JOE BENNETT

I caught up with former Cardiff City and current Oxford United defender Joe Bennett, as we spoke about Benno's time at City, look back on some of his favourite memories in blue, discuss his departure and his return to the CCS on Monday!

Catching up with Joe Bennett.

How did your move to Cardiff City come about?

I was at Villa at the time and had been told I could potentially leave. I remember Sheffield Wednesday had agreed to sign me so I went up to Sheffield to sign with my family. When I’d got there I did all the interviews while I waited for the paperwork to be sorted and then my agent got a phone call from Aston Villa saying I couldn’t sign. The owner at the time Tony Xia had found out I was leaving and told the club I wasn’t allowed to sign for a promotion rival. I signed for Cardiff the following weekend and as well all know ended up getting promoted the following season. 

You joined the club at a difficult time, what attracted you to the club?

I’d played against Cardiff a few times before and also at the CCS so knew how much the fans love their club. I just wanted a fresh start after being on loan a few times when at Villa and I just thought this was the perfect chance for me to be settled and to be playing every week at a massive club. 

You made your debut in Neil Warnock’s first game as Cardiff manager, what was the feeling like when he was appointed?

I think obviously excitement at Neil [Warnock] coming in. We all knew his track record with other clubs and getting the best out of his teams. He was a big character and even after first day and his first meeting with the players he just lifted everyone, there was a buzz around the squad going into the Severnside derby. I actually wasn’t meant to be playing that game! He chose Matt Connolly at left back but the day before he got injured in training so I ended playing. I think without that bit of luck at the start my Cardiff career could have been different! 

Fulham triggered the release clause in your deal during the summer, what made you want to stay at Cardiff?

I got told by my agent that Fulham had triggered a £2M million release clause in my contract and the club didn’t have a choice if I wanted to leave, I could. I spoke about it with my family for a couple of days but we had started the season really strong i was playing every week, I loved it in Cardiff and my family was settled. I was happy. I was being pushed for an answer and in the end I texted Ken [Choo] and the Manager [Neil Warnock] Saying I wanted to honour my contract  and that I wanted to stay. And that was that. I suppose it turned out to be a good decision in the end as we all know the outcome that season! 

You were a regular in the team during the promotion season, at what point did you begin to believe promotion was possible?

The first eight games we had got off to a flyer winning all of them. I think by Christmas I really thought we could do it. We were solid at home very hard to beat  had a really good defensive record all season and then could hit teams on the counter attack with Mendez [Mendez-Laing] and Junior [Hoilett] on the wings. Ken [Zohore] was also flying that season. I knew if we could stay with Leeds in the last part of the season we had a massive chance. 

What was that feeling like when the full-time whistle went against Reading?

Just a massive relief! If I’m honest. More than anything. We had put so much into the season. The pressure and how long the season was with the amount of games, after the final whistle it was just like a weight had been lifted! And then just pure joy afterwards going into the dressing room celebrating with everyone in the changing rooms and coming out to the fans and seeing how much it meant to everyone! The open bus parade I’ll never forget with the whole City turning out in there numbers it was just a really special time for the club and the City. My best moment in football for sure. 

You made thirty appearances for City in the Premier League, despite relegation, what was your favourite moment during that season?

The full season to be honest. The ups and downs I enjoyed it all. I felt good my body felt good and we had some good moments. Especially that away win a Leicester. The game against Arsenal at home when Victor [Camarasa] scored our first Premier League goal since the last promotion. We were so close to staying up, and to be honest with a similar squad to the one playing Championship football the season before. Being a United fan the final day was special also even though we had been relegated but the amount of fans that came to Old Trafford with us down already just showed how much they cared and how big the club was. 

What was the feeling like when Neil Harris was appointed?

It was really sad to see Neil [Warnock] leave because he’d done so much for the club and personally resurrected my career if I’m honest so I had so much to be thankful for, from him and his staff. But I think we needed fresh input and new ideas into the squad. We had played a certain way for a long time and I think players and fans wanted something different. So when Neil Harris came in I think there was optimism and belief trying a different system and playing a different way. There were new ideas and we played some good football that season. Getting to the Playoffs and narrowly missing out on getting to the final. 

You continued to be a regular until you suffered an ACL injury, what was going through your mind when you were given the size of the injury? Did it have an effect on you mentally?

Probably the toughest moment I’d gone through. I’d not had a big injury before so when the news came back that I had torn my ACL I was devastated. Also I knew I was out of contract so that was obviously a massive worry. I had been offered a contract a few months before but hadn’t signed anything yet. I had been offered a one year extension and for mine and my families security I had asked if that could be two years. I felt I was playing well, I was playing every week I think we had just gone on a 7/8 game winning streak under Mick McCarthy. So I wanted some added security for me and my family. Obviously that was never offered and then I did my knee so I was in a bad position but I honestly thought something would get sorted regardless after my injury. But the original offer was withdrawn by the club. In some ways understandable, why would you pay somebody for being injured?  But I really wanted to get something sorted regardless. I didn’t want to leave. The club had been a massive part of my life and I wanted it to continue. I was desperate to stay. 

There was plenty of teases during your rehab that you may be offered a new deal, was that ever an option?

That’s what I was working so hard for. I felt if I could prove to the manager I could get back quickly they would offer me a contract. There was some brief conversations with Mick [McCarthy] about staying but in the end I'll never forget going into his office and him telling me that it’s done. I won’t be offered anything but the club will still do my rehab. I knew any other previous manager I had worked with at Cardiff would have pushed for me to stay. I don’t believe he was bothered either way. I hadn’t worked with him long enough I suppose. I went home to tell my partner Cherie and we were just both in shock really that I’d have to look for a new club. 

Who was the most underrated player you played with at Cardiff?

Underrated I think Lee Peltier. Was always fit, very rarely had a bad game. Very good 1v1 and also a big character and leader in the team. You know he would go to battle and give his everything on game day and as the opposite fullback It motivated me to do the same. 

You're back at the CCS on Monday, given there wasn’t a proper chance for a send off, are you excited to come back?

Really excited to come back! I’ve missed the opportunity a couple of times when I was at Wigan because of injury so when the fixtures came out I looked straight away when the game was! Although not in the best circumstances with it being a massive game obviously. It will be nice to see some familiar faces and see the fans again since my last game.

Big thanks to Joe for answering the questions!

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