Reuben Hazell

By Phil Tooley

"It was wonderful to be playing football again after a year out," said defender Reuben Hazell after his sub appearance at Blackpool on the opening day of the season, "It may only have been for ten minutes but it was good to get a feel for winning again."

The summer recruit missed the whole of last season whilst at Kidderminster Harriers, he had a wear-and-tear knee injury that required two lots of surgery to put right, he recovered towards the end of last season but felt it wasn't worth risking playing until he was fully fit and properly prepared. Hard work this summer seems to have paid off as he's now fully fit and raring to go here at Saltergate.

Born in Birmingham on 24^th April 1979, Reuben came to the attention of Aston Villa as a youngster and he joined their set up aged ten and was eventually offered a scholarship with the West Midlands Club and after two years as a YTS he signed a two year pro deal but he didn't make the Villa first eleven, however his formative years developed due to the input of coaches like Tony McAndrew, "he was a big influence in my career" states Reuben, the ex Middlesbrough defender was "strict but he knew how to play as a centre half and he taught me how to be a defender and I really appreciate what he's done for me." Former Liverpool man Kevin McDonald as well as his Uncle Bob Hazell, who was a schoolboy coach at Villa when Rueben first went there, were also major influences on our new man.

His playing peers at Villa included the likes of Gillingham's Darren Byfield, "I'm still good friends with Darren, so I can't wait to play them, I've never played against him! I'm still friends with Darius Vassell who's just signed for Man City and there were a few others like Lee Hendrie, Gareth Barry and Jlloyd Samuel there at the time that I still keep in touch with."

At the age of 20, Reuben moved to John Aldridge's Tranmere Rovers, they were then in Division One (Championship equivalent) and the untried youngster was thrust straight into their side for the season's opener at home to Bolton Wanderers. "It was a lovely day, at home, we drew 0-0, I'll never forget it. I played right back, the standard was excellent, Eidur Gudjohnsen was playing for them, Ricardo Gardner as well and Jason Koumas played for us, it was really hard but a good introduction into league football. I was nervous but once I got a kick of the balland got into the game, I settled in and enjoyed it."

That 1999-2000 season saw Rovers play out some great Cup games, they reached the FA Cup Quarter Final, going out 3-2 at home to a Newcastle side that included Shearer, Ferguson and Dyer whilst a certain Wayne Allison was one of Rovers' scorers. However, in the League Cup they made the Final having beaten the likes of Middlesbrough (including Juninho) to reach Wembley where, in front of 74313 people they succumbed to a Matt Elliott double to lose 2-1. "There'd been a stage earlier in the season when I'd dropped out of the team and I felt I'd not get back in but after a few good reserve performances I got back in for the Ipswich away game, we drew 0-0, and I kept in the team after that game and ended up playing in lots of really big games, Paolo Di Canio and Trevor Sinclair played in the West Ham game but the Worthington Cup Final, that's been the biggest highlight of my career, all my family and friends were there, that sticks out in my mind as being the best memory in football for me."

The next match was special too, a 2-1 win at Portsmouth and Reuben's first ever senior goal! "I opened my account at Fratton Park, it was a bit of a scuffer against Russell Hoult in goal, but they all count. I remember running off to celebrate with Wayne Allison, so we celebrated together. I have some funny memories at Portsmouth, scoring that goal but I also got sent off there once, a straight red, it was an innocuous challenge on Justin Edinburgh, it didn't even deserve a yellow!"

His second season at Tranmere was a bit harder, he lost his place and Rovers ended up being relegated. "I didn't play much that season, I don't know if that contributed to the relegation or not, I wouldn't like to say, but I'd have liked to have helped out a bit more." Aldridge left Prenton Park, several players moved on too, Dave Watson came in as manager and Reuben was back in the side but he got injured and lost his place so I asked if I could go out on loan and I ended up joining Roy McFarland at Torquay United. "I'd been playing through a hamstring injury for Rovers, it was silly of me really, in the end it took its toll, I couldn't get back in the team, so being frustrated and in the last year of my contract, a loan seemed a good idea."

United has missed out on relegation the previous year only on the last day of the season before McFarland took charge and they were struggling again when Reuben joined. "We played three at the back, I played on the right of the three, we conceded few goals, in fact we went six games without conceding any, I think that's a Club record and we moved up the table." One of his defensive colleagues was ex Spireite Stephen Woods, who played in the middle and Sean Hankin made up the record breaking trio, "We did a really good job for Roy, kept ourselves up by winning at Shrewsbury with still a few games to play. I signed for Torquay because I could see potential there and I was proved to be right because we won promotion in 2004."

Reuben bagged two more goals for United, a last minute equaliser at home to Rochdale in a 2-2 draw and at home to Oxford in a 3-0 win in the promotion campaign. "The Rochdale game was a good one, we were 2-1 down and I'd made a bit of a mistake for their second so there was great relief when I score in the last minute, I'd charged through the middle of the pitch and Tony Bedeau crossed and, arriving late, I headed it in and was relieved more than anything. Against Oxford, now that was a good goal if I must say so myself, a one two on the edge of the box with Jo Kuffour, one on one with the keeper and I steadied myself, I normally panic in the box and I slipped it through his legs, purposely, some of the lads though it was an accident, but I promise you, after he'd spread himself like Schmeichel, I saw his spread legs and I shot there deliberately!"

After promotion, Hazell moved on to Jan Molby's Kidderminster. "Torquay offered me a contract but it wasn't to my liking, after helping them to promotion, I thought I deserved better than a year's deal whilst Kidderminster offered me two years, more money and, after 5 years of being away, I could go back home to Birmingham. It was too good to turn down though things, with my knee injury, didn't work out. It was a shame because they're a nice little Club and I feel sad I didn't get to play for them."

After talk of possibly joining Walsall this summer, nothing came of it so Reuben arrived for a trial at Chesterfield. "It was good that Roy was prepared to take a chance, especially after my knee problems, and it's gone well so far." Hazell played in a number of pre season games, at both right back and centre half and has been offered a deal until the end of 2005, so what are his initial thoughts on the old place? "It's brilliant, I couldn't ask for any more. My knee's been much better than I thought it would be, that's number one priority, my health, but apart from that, the lads have been great, they like a laugh and like fining me even though I don't know all of the rules. I've got mates here, Hally, Chief and Shinner, team-mates at previous clubs, the training's excellent, the club try and do everything right, which I really like, it's professional, the Gaffer's tries to make things better and better each day, I just can't wait to get settled in properly."

So, which is his preferred position, full back or centre half? "I prefer playing in a centre half position, whether it's in a two or a three. I like defending in the middle of the goal, in the action, I like getting tackles in, defending your own goal. At full back, you have less of an influence, even though it's still defending and I wouldn't say that getting forward is my forte, it's definitely defending that's my strength. I don't mind playing right back so if I need to play there I'll grab the chance with both hands. As long as I'm playing, then I'm happy!"

His first full 90 minutes for Chesterfield in his preferred centre back berth proved to be sound. With Janos Kovacs unable to travel to Yeovil Town after a knee injury, Reuben was drafted in alongside Steve Blatherwick and he looked very sound, both in the air and on the ground.

So, an excellent bloke (even for an Arsenal fan!), whose memory of his games is very vivid, unlike some, and his persona will be a welcome addition to the dressing room. Welcome to Chesterfield Reuben, we hope things work out for everyone.

PHIL TOOLEY