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Westwood interview in the Telegraph
Posted: Thu Feb 20, 2020 5:02 pm
by Chester Perry
Ashley Westwood interview: ‘I’ve never known anything like the Burnley dressing room – the camaraderie is like a Sunday League team’
Westwood is loving his football at the moment and couldn’t care less about Burnley’s reputation as long-ball merchants
By James Ducker, Northern Football Correspondent 20 February 2020 • 3:45pm
As the conversation turns to the subject of grass and gardening, Ashley Westwood’s face lights up. Few things may bring the Burnley midfielder as much happiness as plonking a perfect cross on to the head of Chris Wood to score, but he is equally in his element when he has his lawnmower out or is testing his wife, Rebecca, on the botanical names of plants after dinner on a Sunday evening.
“I was laughing during the winter break the other week,” Westwood says. “There are all these pictures of Premier League players on holiday in Dubai and other exotic places and I’m there at the bottom of my garden digging up bushes with Rebecca.
“She’s studying horticulture at college in Cheadle. On a Sunday night, she’ll be learning the Latin names for various plants and flowers. I’ll come in and test her and she’s there reeling them all off.
“I love my garden – love me grass, especially. It’s therapeutic being out there. The first bit of the lawn is astroturfed for the kids to play football. The ball goes on to the grass and my little boy, Frankie, starts to run and I’m like: ‘Get off me grass!’ If he doesn’t score, he doesn’t get his ball back!”
Suffice to say, Westwood’s discussions with Barry O’Brien, the Burnley groundsman, are more scientific than most. “I tell Baz what he’s doing wrong,” Westwood jokes. “He sent me a load of information the other week about which seeds to use and when. It’s really interesting. He slips me a few supplies now and then too. He said he’d give me a little area at the training ground to work on but I’m still waiting for that. It’s a fantastic set up at the training ground. It’s just at Turf Moor where the grass is a bit long, apparently…”
Westwood, of course, is having a playful dig at Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta’s complaints about the pitch after their 0-0 draw against Burnley earlier this month. The grass did not prevent Burnley from passing rings around Arsenal for long periods and, as the home supporters revelled in poking fun at David Luiz’s claims that Sean Dyche’s side are “anti football”, Westwood says they are happy to be pigeon-holed as crude, long-ball merchants.
“We’re labelled as a direct team who bully sides, but we don’t mind it,” he says. “We’d rather teams just think we boom it because then, when we do play, they are sort of shocked by it, but I think people saw that against Arsenal. At times in that game, we played them off the park. I think we’ve got the Stoke tag of years ago.
“We’ve not got distracted playing out from our own six-yard box. We get it forward and play in the right areas.
“Even Liverpool, as brilliant as they are, will play forward quickly at times and ask their front three to chase after the ball. We were joking that when they spin it in behind it’s a great long pass, when we do it it’s a long ball.”
The draw against Arsenal followed impressive victories over Leicester City and Manchester United and preceded another win against Southampton last Saturday, when Westwood scored direct from a corner. He is in the form of his life, one of the country’s hardest working and most underrated central midfielders whose pinpoint delivery from set pieces and open play has, alongside winger Dwight McNeil, provided a plentiful supply of ammunition for Wood and Ashley Barnes, Burnley’s formidable forward pairing, to gorge themselves on.
Barnes happens to be Westwood’s closest friend in the dressing room. Together, they bought a battered old Mercedes Viano which they use to drive to and from training.
“Barn West” cabs, as they call it, provides a handy taxi service for team-mates at the same time as ensuring they do their bit for the environment. Joe Hart is hitching a ride at the moment. They will meet at Costa Coffee, close to where Westwood lives in the affluent Cheshire suburb of Prestbury, and the journeys are renowned for their karaoke.
“Barnesy’s big into Celine Dion. The Power of Love. He also likes The Wurzels. Combine Harvester,” Westwood reveals. “He’s not got a voice but he’s good at that one.
“Harty can rap. He’s not bad. He’s into Stormzy. I’ve never known anything like this dressing room at Burnley. It’s like a Sunday League team in terms of camaraderie playing in the Premier League. It’s unbelievable.”
Westwood is fantastic company. Likeable, funny, generous with his time and the sort of strong, dependable character all teams need. It is certainly hard to marry this player with the one who sank into depression during his troubled final year with Aston Villa. The team were struggling, relegation from the Premier League loomed, the club changed managers five times in 18 months and Westwood struggled badly with the stick he got from angry, frustrated fans.
“It was only when I joined Burnley [in January 2017] that I realised how bad a place I was in,” he explains. “I’d keep it all inside, locked away, trying to show a hard face but my wife knew I was unhappy.
“We had a little group of us who’d have a drink after a game. I’d have a carafe of red wine but it’d end up being two bottles. I wouldn’t say I was turning into an alcoholic but I was never really a player who’d drink. I’d never drink in the house but now I didn’t want to go out. I’d get home after getting beat and didn’t want to be seen out because fans would turn on you and I’d end up drinking red wine at home. Rebecca was really worried about me at times. She’d ask: ‘Are you all right?’. And I’d just say: ‘Yeah, I’m fine’. But I wasn’t. It was an instant release coming to Burnley.”
Burnley face Bournemouth on Saturday, when a fourth win in five league games would strengthen their hopes of another shot at Europa League qualification. “I mentioned to Barnesy in the van on the way in to training the other day that we could get into Europe again,” Westwood says. “This run has propelled us into that group and we’re not far off.”
Re: Westwood interview in the Telegraph
Posted: Thu Feb 20, 2020 5:05 pm
by ClaretTony
"It’s a fantastic set up at the training ground. It’s just at Turf Moor where the grass is a bit long, apparently…”
Brilliant
Re: Westwood interview in the Telegraph
Posted: Thu Feb 20, 2020 6:23 pm
by SalisburyClaret
"one of the country’s hardest working and most underrated central midfielders"
I'll second that
Anyone who can tolerate Hart doing Stormzy shows real dedication to their team
Re: Westwood interview in the Telegraph
Posted: Thu Feb 20, 2020 6:26 pm
by Jeffbfc
Comes across as a proper bloke.
That was a good read .
Re: Westwood interview in the Telegraph
Posted: Thu Feb 20, 2020 6:37 pm
by superdimitri
Have we ever had a player who has made such an impact from corners?
Every time he takes one now it feels like we have a special weapon. The kind of feeling you used to get seeing Beckham playing for England.
Re: Westwood interview in the Telegraph
Posted: Thu Feb 20, 2020 6:48 pm
by Bosscat
Cracking read Chester... He always comes across well in interviews, and that video he did with Ash Barnes at Christmas about Barn-West Cabs and the music was hilarious.
We missed him when he was injured no denying that...
Re: Westwood interview in the Telegraph
Posted: Thu Feb 20, 2020 6:59 pm
by bfcjg
Fantastic. When he is on form we are unbeatable IMHO.
Re: Westwood interview in the Telegraph
Posted: Thu Feb 20, 2020 6:59 pm
by Jakubs Tash
Good read. I always enjoy reading or hearing about our fantastic spirit and togetherness!
I'm sure that is just me looking through Claret tinted specs, though, and one of the more realistic fans will come on here and quickly tell me to snap out of it and get real.....
Re: Westwood interview in the Telegraph
Posted: Thu Feb 20, 2020 7:01 pm
by ElectroClaret
superdimitri wrote: ↑Thu Feb 20, 2020 6:37 pm
Have we ever had a player who has made such an impact from corners?
Good question. I can't think of one.
We used to be awful at corners.
Re: Westwood interview in the Telegraph
Posted: Thu Feb 20, 2020 7:04 pm
by Vino blanco
Dave Thomas was always brilliant with his corners.
Re: Westwood interview in the Telegraph
Posted: Thu Feb 20, 2020 7:06 pm
by ElectroClaret
Yes he was. Long time ago, though.
Re: Westwood interview in the Telegraph
Posted: Thu Feb 20, 2020 7:10 pm
by Vegas Claret
superb
Re: Westwood interview in the Telegraph
Posted: Thu Feb 20, 2020 7:18 pm
by burnley007
Fantastic read.
So proud of my club at the minute.
Re: Westwood interview in the Telegraph
Posted: Thu Feb 20, 2020 7:20 pm
by Burnley1989
I’d have him on free kicks around the area rather than McNeil
Re: Westwood interview in the Telegraph
Posted: Thu Feb 20, 2020 7:22 pm
by Bosscat
Jakubs Tash wrote: ↑Thu Feb 20, 2020 6:59 pm
Good read. I always enjoy reading or hearing about our fantastic spirit and togetherness!
I'm sure that is just me looking through Claret tinted specs, though, and one of the more realistic fans will come on here and quickly tell me to snap out of it and get real.....
Snap out of it and get real..... of course we are proud of our fantastic one club mentality ...
Team sprit and togetherness sums up BFC perfectly.
None more so than the team celebrating with Vyds at St Marys on Saturday.
Re: Westwood interview in the Telegraph
Posted: Thu Feb 20, 2020 7:23 pm
by claret2018
Agree re corners. Before Westwood it seemed the opposition scored as a result of our corners more than we did.
Re: Westwood interview in the Telegraph
Posted: Thu Feb 20, 2020 8:12 pm
by IanMcL
SalisburyClaret wrote: ↑Thu Feb 20, 2020 6:23 pm
"one of the country’s hardest working and most underrated central midfielders"
I'll second that
Anyone who can tolerate Hart doing Stormzy shows real dedication to their team
It does demonstrate that Joe Hart is part of it all though and not some aloof guy thinking he owns the shampoo cupboard!
Re: Westwood interview in the Telegraph
Posted: Thu Feb 20, 2020 8:14 pm
by IanMcL
Europe in the air....
Yippee!
Re: Westwood interview in the Telegraph
Posted: Thu Feb 20, 2020 8:19 pm
by Bin Ont Turf
A Terrier in the long grass.
Re: Westwood interview in the Telegraph
Posted: Thu Feb 20, 2020 8:38 pm
by AndrewJB
The interview exemplifies the team spirit, and how we need new players to fit into it.
Re: Westwood interview in the Telegraph
Posted: Thu Feb 20, 2020 8:44 pm
by boatshed bill
That was a good read, he sounds like a real top bloke, and so honest about his unhappier time.
Re: Westwood interview in the Telegraph
Posted: Thu Feb 20, 2020 8:45 pm
by Andreshotboots
superdimitri wrote: ↑Thu Feb 20, 2020 6:37 pm
Have we ever had a player who has made such an impact from corners?
Every time he takes one now it feels like we have a special weapon. The kind of feeling you used to get seeing Beckham playing for England.
Only player i can think of relatively recently was David Eyres. He had a want of a left peg and whipped in some beauties underneath the bar at times too.
Re: Westwood interview in the Telegraph
Posted: Thu Feb 20, 2020 8:50 pm
by Rammy1968
Met Westy at Norton Canes services a couple of weeks back top lad UTC
Re: Westwood interview in the Telegraph
Posted: Thu Feb 20, 2020 9:40 pm
by Taffy on the wing
Chester Perry wrote: ↑Thu Feb 20, 2020 5:02 pm
Ashley Westwood interview: ‘I’ve never known anything like the Burnley dressing room – the camaraderie is like a Sunday League team’
Westwood is loving his football at the moment and couldn’t care less about Burnley’s reputation as long-ball merchants
By James Ducker, Northern Football Correspondent 20 February 2020 • 3:45pm
As the conversation turns to the subject of grass and gardening, Ashley Westwood’s face lights up. Few things may bring the Burnley midfielder as much happiness as plonking a perfect cross on to the head of Chris Wood to score, but he is equally in his element when he has his lawnmower out or is testing his wife, Rebecca, on the botanical names of plants after dinner on a Sunday evening.
“I was laughing during the winter break the other week,” Westwood says. “There are all these pictures of Premier League players on holiday in Dubai and other exotic places and I’m there at the bottom of my garden digging up bushes with Rebecca.
“She’s studying horticulture at college in Cheadle. On a Sunday night, she’ll be learning the Latin names for various plants and flowers. I’ll come in and test her and she’s there reeling them all off.
“I love my garden – love me grass, especially. It’s therapeutic being out there. The first bit of the lawn is astroturfed for the kids to play football. The ball goes on to the grass and my little boy, Frankie, starts to run and I’m like: ‘Get off me grass!’ If he doesn’t score, he doesn’t get his ball back!”
Suffice to say, Westwood’s discussions with Barry O’Brien, the Burnley groundsman, are more scientific than most. “I tell Baz what he’s doing wrong,” Westwood jokes. “He sent me a load of information the other week about which seeds to use and when. It’s really interesting. He slips me a few supplies now and then too. He said he’d give me a little area at the training ground to work on but I’m still waiting for that. It’s a fantastic set up at the training ground. It’s just at Turf Moor where the grass is a bit long, apparently…”
Westwood, of course, is having a playful dig at Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta’s complaints about the pitch after their 0-0 draw against Burnley earlier this month. The grass did not prevent Burnley from passing rings around Arsenal for long periods and, as the home supporters revelled in poking fun at David Luiz’s claims that Sean Dyche’s side are “anti football”, Westwood says they are happy to be pigeon-holed as crude, long-ball merchants.
“We’re labelled as a direct team who bully sides, but we don’t mind it,” he says. “We’d rather teams just think we boom it because then, when we do play, they are sort of shocked by it, but I think people saw that against Arsenal. At times in that game, we played them off the park. I think we’ve got the Stoke tag of years ago.
“We’ve not got distracted playing out from our own six-yard box. We get it forward and play in the right areas.
“Even Liverpool, as brilliant as they are, will play forward quickly at times and ask their front three to chase after the ball. We were joking that when they spin it in behind it’s a great long pass, when we do it it’s a long ball.”
The draw against Arsenal followed impressive victories over Leicester City and Manchester United and preceded another win against Southampton last Saturday, when Westwood scored direct from a corner. He is in the form of his life, one of the country’s hardest working and most underrated central midfielders whose pinpoint delivery from set pieces and open play has, alongside winger Dwight McNeil, provided a plentiful supply of ammunition for Wood and Ashley Barnes, Burnley’s formidable forward pairing, to gorge themselves on.
Barnes happens to be Westwood’s closest friend in the dressing room. Together, they bought a battered old Mercedes Viano which they use to drive to and from training.
“Barn West” cabs, as they call it, provides a handy taxi service for team-mates at the same time as ensuring they do their bit for the environment. Joe Hart is hitching a ride at the moment. They will meet at Costa Coffee, close to where Westwood lives in the affluent Cheshire suburb of Prestbury, and the journeys are renowned for their karaoke.
“Barnesy’s big into Celine Dion. The Power of Love. He also likes The Wurzels. Combine Harvester,” Westwood reveals. “He’s not got a voice but he’s good at that one.
“Harty can rap. He’s not bad. He’s into Stormzy. I’ve never known anything like this dressing room at Burnley. It’s like a Sunday League team in terms of camaraderie playing in the Premier League. It’s unbelievable.”
Westwood is fantastic company. Likeable, funny, generous with his time and the sort of strong, dependable character all teams need. It is certainly hard to marry this player with the one who sank into depression during his troubled final year with Aston Villa. The team were struggling, relegation from the Premier League loomed, the club changed managers five times in 18 months and Westwood struggled badly with the stick he got from angry, frustrated fans.
“It was only when I joined Burnley [in January 2017] that I realised how bad a place I was in,” he explains. “I’d keep it all inside, locked away, trying to show a hard face but my wife knew I was unhappy.
“We had a little group of us who’d have a drink after a game. I’d have a carafe of red wine but it’d end up being two bottles. I wouldn’t say I was turning into an alcoholic but I was never really a player who’d drink. I’d never drink in the house but now I didn’t want to go out. I’d get home after getting beat and didn’t want to be seen out because fans would turn on you and I’d end up drinking red wine at home. Rebecca was really worried about me at times. She’d ask: ‘Are you all right?’. And I’d just say: ‘Yeah, I’m fine’. But I wasn’t. It was an instant release coming to Burnley.”
Burnley face Bournemouth on Saturday, when a fourth win in five league games would strengthen their hopes of another shot at Europa League qualification. “I mentioned to Barnesy in the van on the way in to training the other day that we could get into Europe again,” Westwood says. “This run has propelled us into that group and we’re not far off.”
Brilliant stuff!
Re: Westwood interview in the Telegraph
Posted: Thu Feb 20, 2020 9:54 pm
by summitclaret
He has said that he is a poor man's Carrick. Well we claim to be poor and he is ours. I am so glad he is. Fantastic signing. What a bargain.
Re: Westwood interview in the Telegraph
Posted: Thu Feb 20, 2020 9:56 pm
by Duffer_
My youngest's fave player and he was mascot a few months back. Notice how he always gets the mascot to point out their adult to make sure you get a special wave and great photo opportunities. Little touches of absolute class mark out the terrier in the long grass!
UTC!
Re: Westwood interview in the Telegraph
Posted: Thu Feb 20, 2020 10:08 pm
by DAVETHEVICAR
Living in Lincoln I got to know a lady who supported Aston Villa and sold the Lincolnshire Echo in the City Centre.
She goes to all their home and away games and has done for years.
She talks to all the players before games and collects autographs of the players and has photos taken with them.
When we were linked with Matt Lowton and Ashley Westwood she told me that they were struggling in the Villa set up but they were the nicest, loveliest young lads at the club.
She has proved to be spot on in her judgement
Re: Westwood interview in the Telegraph
Posted: Thu Feb 20, 2020 10:21 pm
by JohnDearyMe
summitclaret wrote: ↑Thu Feb 20, 2020 9:54 pm
He has said that he is a poor man's Carrick. Well we claim to be poor and he is ours. I am so glad he is. Fantastic signing. What a bargain.
Remember Brady getting most of the attention when they both signed together but what a signing Westwood has been. Excellent value too
Re: Westwood interview in the Telegraph
Posted: Thu Feb 20, 2020 10:25 pm
by tarkys_ears
Fast becoming 2nd Mr Burnley behind Ben Mee... To think some Villa fans were glad to see the back of him!!
Re: Westwood interview in the Telegraph
Posted: Thu Feb 20, 2020 10:28 pm
by Stayingup
Good article. Good player for us.
I note he lives in one of the places in the Golden Triangle of Prestbury, Wimslow and Alderley Edge. A lot of footballers there. Rooney has a place in Prestbury.
Re: Westwood interview in the Telegraph
Posted: Thu Feb 20, 2020 10:55 pm
by Cubanclaret
Definitely the best corner taker I have seen it at the club, without question. Great engine and all round tidy player. If his passing was more accurate I’d wager he wouldn’t be with us. Our central midfield tends to be much maligned when we’re not churning out results but Westwood and Cork have been consistently good players for us. Clearly great pro’s and top lads too.
Re: Westwood interview in the Telegraph
Posted: Thu Feb 20, 2020 10:59 pm
by Bullabill
Andreshotboots wrote: ↑Thu Feb 20, 2020 8:45 pm
Only player i can think of relatively recently was David Eyres. He had a want of a left peg and whipped in some beauties underneath the bar at times too.
How did he manage that with only a right leg ?
Re: Westwood interview in the Telegraph
Posted: Thu Feb 20, 2020 11:38 pm
by tim_noone
Theres some two faced gits on this forum....cant think of one player who "Hasnt" had Dogs abuse on here...amazing what a couple of wins does.
Re: Westwood interview in the Telegraph
Posted: Thu Feb 20, 2020 11:39 pm
by Lord Beamish
In the Championship Season, Matty Taylor took some mean corners, and set pieces in general.
Re: Westwood interview in the Telegraph
Posted: Thu Feb 20, 2020 11:41 pm
by Burnley Ace
Wonder what the insurance premium is for Barn West Cabs!!
Re: Westwood interview in the Telegraph
Posted: Thu Feb 20, 2020 11:48 pm
by dsr
tarkys_ears wrote: ↑Thu Feb 20, 2020 10:25 pm
Fast becoming 2nd Mr Burnley behind Ben Mee... To think some Villa fans were glad to see the back of him!!
Even now, there were a lot of Villa fans querying the Drinkwater signing simply because he was being kept out of Burnley's side by Westwood. They don't have any concept that the reason he was out of the Villa side but in the Burnley side, is as much about the two clubs as about Westwood.
Re: Westwood interview in the Telegraph
Posted: Thu Feb 20, 2020 11:58 pm
by jdrobbo
Another perfect fit for Dyche’s Burnley.
Re: Westwood interview in the Telegraph
Posted: Fri Feb 21, 2020 6:20 am
by JohnDearyMe
Burnley Ace wrote: ↑Thu Feb 20, 2020 11:41 pm
Wonder what the insurance premium is for Barn West Cabs!!
Am slightly surprised that so many of them are allowed to drive in together. One accident and we could be in trouble
Re: Westwood interview in the Telegraph
Posted: Fri Feb 21, 2020 7:03 am
by Lord Beamish
JohnDearyMe wrote: ↑Fri Feb 21, 2020 6:20 am
Am slightly surprised that so many of them are allowed to drive in together. One accident and we could be in trouble
The whole team(minus the manager)flew back from Southampton. One accident...
Re: Westwood interview in the Telegraph
Posted: Fri Feb 21, 2020 7:58 am
by the_magic_rat
If I were to think of one player who sums up the Burnley ethos it is Ashley Westwood. He has developed into a key member of "the group" and always comes over as an extremely affable and rounded individual when interviewed as already commented above.
Re: Westwood interview in the Telegraph
Posted: Fri Feb 21, 2020 8:21 am
by BurnleyFC
bfcjg wrote: ↑Thu Feb 20, 2020 6:59 pm
Fantastic. When he is on form we are unbeatable IMHO.
Steady on!
Re: Westwood interview in the Telegraph
Posted: Fri Feb 21, 2020 8:43 am
by Andreshotboots
Bullabill wrote: ↑Thu Feb 20, 2020 10:59 pm
How did he manage that with only a right leg ?
Think you know I meant wand
Re: Westwood interview in the Telegraph
Posted: Fri Feb 21, 2020 8:51 am
by wooooosh
Lord Beamish wrote: ↑Thu Feb 20, 2020 11:39 pm
In the Championship Season, Matty Taylor took some mean corners, and set pieces in general.
Agreed. Brighton away........ one perfectly legal goal disallowed followed by Keane's header to equalise last minute. Both from Matty Taylor corners right in front of us.
Re: Westwood interview in the Telegraph
Posted: Fri Feb 21, 2020 8:53 am
by ClaretTony
Matty Taylor turned it round at Brighton and also in the home game a few weeks later against Middlesbrough when again we scored the goal from his corner. And, like Westwood, another fantastic character to have in the dressing room. This is why it works so well at Burnley.
Re: Westwood interview in the Telegraph
Posted: Fri Feb 21, 2020 9:07 am
by Quickenthetempo
Was it Joe Jakub that took corners in the 4th division title winning season?
The commentator in the York video seemed to suggest Jakub took all set pieces for us.
Pender and Davis seem to score a few from corners anyhow.
Re: Westwood interview in the Telegraph
Posted: Fri Feb 21, 2020 10:00 am
by JohnDearyMe
Lord Beamish wrote: ↑Fri Feb 21, 2020 7:03 am
The whole team(minus the manager)flew back from Southampton. One accident...
Would suggest that car accidents are slightly more prevalent than plane ones
Re: Westwood interview in the Telegraph
Posted: Fri Feb 21, 2020 10:23 am
by Lord Beamish
JohnDearyMe wrote: ↑Fri Feb 21, 2020 10:00 am
Would suggest that car accidents are slightly more prevalent than plane ones
Unarguably. You’re more likely to survive a car crash than a plane crash, mind.
Re: Westwood interview in the Telegraph
Posted: Fri Feb 21, 2020 10:36 am
by ClaretTony
JohnDearyMe wrote: ↑Fri Feb 21, 2020 6:20 am
Am slightly surprised that so many of them are allowed to drive in together. One accident and we could be in trouble
I'm not sure an employer can dictate how an employee travels to work but this is another part of the fantastic team spirit we have at Burnley. I think Joe Hart is the only other passenger now. Ben Gibson travelled with them but I think they were considering kicking him out anyway because he wouldn't dip into his pocket to pay for the coffees.
Re: Westwood interview in the Telegraph
Posted: Fri Feb 21, 2020 10:41 am
by randomclaret2
I think you may have inadvertently revealed the real reason for Gibson's falling out with the club there Tony
Re: Westwood interview in the Telegraph
Posted: Fri Feb 21, 2020 10:55 am
by JohnDearyMe
Lord Beamish wrote: ↑Fri Feb 21, 2020 10:23 am
Unarguably. You’re more likely to survive a car crash than a plane crash, mind.
Very true. Was just wondering if it was something the club and/or the insurers had ever flagged up as a cause for concern given the game is increasingly monetised. Perhaps not.
Anyway, good to see the team spirit we have.
