Ex-Arsenal player returns to Champions League with minnows 17 years after making his debut with the Gunners.
Arsene Wenger had high hopes for Mark Randall, but he only appeared in a few games before sliding down the leagues.
Mark Randall is ready to make his Champions League debut for Northern Irish team Larne against HJK Helsinki on Wednesday night, and he insists it "means a lot more" than when he played in Europe for Arsenal.
Randall made his Arsenal debut almost 17 years ago as a substitute in a League Cup match against West Brom, and the midfielder was highly regarded by legendary Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger. Randall was reportedly described as having "so much quality that I refuse to think he will not make it" by the Frenchman, and he appeared in two Champions League games for them in 2008.
Randall, however, did not "make it" at Arsenal, and after being released in 2011, he had time with Chesterfield, Italian club Ascoli, MK Dons, Barnet, Newport, Crawley, and Hemel Hempsted. And, at 33, he is gearing up for a comeback to the Champions League with Larne, 15 years after his last appearance.
"This will be at the top, I think, because of the achievement for the club and the fans," he told PA. "It's little old Larne, but it's a huge achievement that everyone is looking forward to."
"I think this tops it because it happens every year at clubs like Arsenal, but this is such a huge thing for the club and the town." It's not common over here, especially for a decent run.
"Competing in that competition for Larne means a lot more to me." Randall joined Larne in 2019 after the club was promoted to the Irish Premiership under the ownership of Kenny Bruce, who also co-founded online estate agency Purple Bricks.
And, only four seasons after coming, he helped Larne win the league for the first time in their history and advance to the first qualifying round of the Champions League. "This was a new challenge for me," he said of his decision to go to Northern Ireland.
"We were looking for a way to get away from England when this came up." My wife was a little concerned at first, but as soon as she came over, she really loved it, and the kids adore it here, so it's probably the finest thing we've ever done.
"I wanted to come over and play in a league where I could win things instead of just floating around at mid-table teams in League Two and League One." When I met Kenny and the manager (Tiernan Lynch) before signing, I could see the vision, and they've kept their word.
"I enjoy it here. The folks in the town are simply wonderful. We'll go out to eat after the games.
blogpay
Total Comments: 0