‘Totally flipped’ – Coventry City’s Ben Wilson on season of his life, tears for Gus and fending off latest challenger
Coventry City in-depth interview from CoventryLive as Sky Blues reporter Andy Turner sat down with goalkeeper Ben Wilson to reflect on the ‘season of his career’ and the challenges ahead amid renewed competition for his shirt
Little more than a year ago Ben Wilson was Coventry City’s understudy, still striving to get a sustained run in the first team as he’d done for most of his career.
Three games into the 2022/23 campaign he got his big chance to shine with the Sky Blues and took it with both gloves, going on to have what he admits was the “season of his life,” climaxing with a club record 22 clean sheets, the Championship’s Golden Glove award, named in the EFL Team of the Season and playing in a play-off final at Wembley Stadium.
The contrast in mindset going into the new campaign could not be greater.
“Yeah, mentally I am in a place I have never ever been before,” he admitted. “I feel it. I’m 31 now and they say it’s the prime age for a goalkeeper but my body hurts more now than it probably ever has before. But I see past that now because it’s the mental side of it that changes.
“Ten years ago, or even two years ago, I don’t think I’d have been able to walk out at Wembley in front of 90,000 people whereas I did it in May and I didn’t feel the pressure and the nerves, so to be able to do that just shows how much I have come on.
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“And going into this season I’m going into each game thinking I’m going to keep a clean sheet or help the team win, not worrying about what people think about me or whether I’m going to make a mistake etc. Now I’m in a zone where I am moving forward to be the best I can and help the lads as much as I can.”
A bubbly character from the North East, born in former colliery town Stanley, County Durham, Wilson started out at Sunderland but followed a nomadic route to success, racking up just 48 league appearances over an eight year period at five permanent clubs – Sunderland, Cambridge United, Accrington Stanley, Cardiff City and Bradford City – along with loan spells at Harrogate, Gateshead, Chesterfield, AFC Wimbledon, Rochdale, Oldham and Telford before finally joining the Sky Blues in his late 20s.
Having now established himself as Coventry ’s first choice he wants to improve on last season. But having set the bar so high personally, does that mean even more clean sheets?
“Last season was an unbelievable achievement in itself and if you can better that then, wow, it’s instrumental, but getting close enough to it would be an incredible season for myself and obviously for the club,” he said in his distinctive North East accent.
“I didn’t play the first three games of last season so I have already got more clean sheets than I had at the start of last season, so it’s a good start and that’s what I tell myself, and if I can build from there… I trust the back five, or even the ten in front of me, so I think we have a hell of a chance to get there or thereabouts and beat the record last season.”
Goalkeeper is such a specific position, so when he saw Mark Robins bring in a new one in Brad Collins from Barnsley, who won’t have been brought in to sit on the bench necessarily, more to push and compete for the first team spot, he could be forgiven for feeling a little insecure. He’s always been used to competition, of course, but asked how he felt mentally on hearing the news, he said: “Umm well, again it didn’t bother me the fact that they were talking about bringing in another goalkeeper. They were talking even before January about bringing one in so, for me, I wasn’t really fussed because I knew I was having the season of my life.
“For me, it was a no brainer that I was going to start the season. In my head anyway. So I wasn’t even worried about that. The fact that they have brought someone in for competition to push me is great for myself because it’s going to help me kick on. We have still got Simon Moore here, who is a cracking guy in the changing room and on the pitch, so it’s a pleasure to still have Si around to push me again, as he did last season.”
Moore – a consummate professional – hasn’t featured in any league squads so far this season and his only involvement has been on the bench as back-up to Collins in the EFL Cup defeat at AFC Wimbledon.
Asked how he’s coping with the situation, Wilson revealed: “It’s tough for him but he’s training better than he ever has, keeping himself fit and ready and if anything was to happen to me or Brad he’d be ready to fill the void. Simon’s a great, great lad and I have nothing but amazing stuff to say about him. Yes, he’s fantastic.”
As for how Collins has slotted into the goalkeeping group, he said: “He’s fitted in straight away. He’s a good and confident lad. It helps that he’s got the Chelsea connection with Adi (Viveash), and in football having a connection always helps you get places, if you know what I mean. There are a few ex-Chelsea boys in the dressing room so it was an easy changing room to walk into and be part of that close-knit group. As far as the goalkeepers are concerned there’s Simon, who is a great lad, and me, who’s Mr Joker and likes to put a smile on everyone’s face, so I would say it’s been easy for him. It’s certainly a nice, easy goalkeeper group to walk into, that’s for sure.”
Wilson is clearly the one in the dressing room who lifts spirits and keeps everyone upbeat.
“There are a few lads in there who do that, a few that are funny that don’t mean to be and then there’s me,” he laughed. “I’ll tell jokes even if it upsets a few people, but as long as I put smiles on people’s faces. I’m the one that if we get beat 1-0 on the weekend I will be there on Monday morning and try to do my best to lift everyone and keep people happy. Football is such a short life and there’s no time to dwell.
“But the lads are always buzzing and it’s an easy changing room to keep happy.”
Players come and go at every club during every transfer window, and this summer saw City lose two big characters and huge players for the team – Viktor Gyokeres and Gustavo Hamer. Gyokeres’ departure came as no surprise given that he had stated pretty early on in the summer his intentions to leave the club. But with Hamer there was always a glimmer of hope that he might give the club one more season.
So what was it like in the dressing room when the news came through that he was leaving, signing for Sheffield United?
“It was sad,” admitted the 31-year-old. “He’d been here two or three years and you feel like you have known him all your life. He was an instrumental part of last season in particular, with the goals and assists he had. He took most of the set plays and if you take him out of the team it’s a massive chunk out of the matchday situation.”
Tears for Gus
Describing how Hamer told his team-mates, he revealed: “He came into the gym on the morning where we were all stretching before training and he just said, ‘that’s me boys,’ and it was a case of trying to hold back the tears.
“But look, it’s football and it happens, and absolute respect to him because he’s moved to the Premier League, scored on his debut and proved he can play at that level, so he thoroughly deserves it. He’s a top, top lad and I wish him all the best in his future.”
Breaking into a chuckle, he added: “If we get promoted at the end of the season hopefully we’ll sign him back!
“It’s everyone’s dream to play in the Premier League. He could have moved last year or the year before and there was interest from top, top clubs after his first season here. We can take inspiration from what he’s done.”
Having a cheeky dig at the midfielder, he laughed, saying: “Maybe if I start eating and drinking like him I will get there too! But that would mean going down the bad habits route.”
A total of 14 senior players left the club over the summer with 11 new faces coming in, so does it feel like a new start?
“You could say that a little bit but the lads that have come in have been absolutely fantastic and it feels like they have been here for six months already,” he said. “There’s a lot of big characters in there, even the young lads. Some of the characters that they have brought in have been great, and they’re all top, top lads.”
One that has certainly got fans excited is Brighton prospect Yasin Ayari, who has joined on a season-long loan. Asked what his first impressions have been of the 19-year-old Sweden international, he said: “He’s a very good technical player. He’s been quiet so far but he’s a young pup this one, but he’s a Swedish lad so hopefully we’ll get on well like the last one. Those are big boots to fill but I’m sure from what I have seen so far he can do that. He’s an exciting player. His technical ability is a joke, so hopefully he’ll be like a Kasey Palmer and get on the ball and excite a few people, create a few chances and score a few goals.”
He added: “We have a few characters who are big characters who allow others to come out of their shells. Going back to when I was a kid I was the shy lad sat in the corner looking up to the lads at the other end who were the lively characters, and I used to wish that I could have the respect they had. But I think the older I have got, the more comfortable I’ve got in the changing room, the more respect I have had. And while I’m known more for my funny side, it’s important to have a serious head as well.
