Midfielder Southern’s exclusive first interview
New signing Keith Southern has told htafc.com that the challenge of guiding Town through its initial Championship campaign was too good to turn down.
The 31 year-old signed a two year deal with the Terriers last night, ending a ten year association with fellow Championship outfit Blackpool. As such his new club has to be the right one – but he has no doubts that Huddersfield is the place to be.
“A few things appealed to me,” Keith told the Club’s official website. “Huddersfield Town is a forward-moving club that is going places; it’s very ambitious from top to bottom. I wanted a new challenge and now I’m certainly going to get one this season at Huddersfield. I’m really looking forward to getting started.
“I know the manager, Simon, and that was another big pull for me. I played with Simon at Blackpool and then he became manager and brought success to the Club, getting us up from League 1. He was a big pull for me to come here because I know how he works.
“I’ve played against most of the players here at some point, but I started out at Everton with Peter Clarke as a boy and now we’ve come more or less full circle! I know he’s done really well here as he’s a good player and I’m looking forward to getting to know him again. Hopefully we can have some successful times together.”
Although his manager and new teammates will know all about Southern, he described his game for the benefit of any Town fans that haven’t seen him play before:
“I’m a box to box midfielder and I love a tackle! I’m a good organiser on the pitch and I think I bring a good pedigree as I played in the Premier League two years ago. I know what it takes to get out of this League too.”
Southern brings a wealth of knowledge to the Club to compliment his younger midfield colleagues – something that definitely appealed to Simon Grayson.
“First and foremost I think Simon rates what I can do and the attributes I will bring to the Club. There are some young boys in our midfield that probably need a bit of know-how from time to time and I’m really looking forward to playing with the lads.
“I’m only 31, but I’ve achieved everything I want to at Blackpool; I’ve played in the Premier League and enjoyed two promotions. This move is right for everybody concerned and now I’ve signed a longer term deal here I’m looking forward to the future.”
Keith was part of the Blackpool team that gained promotion to the Premier League only a few years ago and he believes he knows what it takes to be successful in the Championship.
“Success comes if you have good players, but you also need organisation, structure and everyone to be pulling in the right direction. Having met some of the staff behind the scenes we seem to have a really honest group and everyone wants the same thing.
“The Club has momentum following promotion last season and I know how important that is from my time at Blackpool. Hopefully we can take that into the new season and have a fantastic start; if we do that, you never know what might happen.”
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