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Source - The Star
FOOTBALLERS, by nature, are an unsentimental bunch.
'Have no regrets' and 'Move swiftly on to the next game' are golden rules of the dressing room.
But David Unsworth admits it would be tempting to turn back the clock.
To Sunday 13 May 2007 precisely.
Then, just over a year after helping Sheffield United reach the Premier League, Unsworth ensured their season-long love affair with England's elite ended in a messy, acrimonious divorce by converting the penalty which preserved Wigan's top-flight status at his former club's expense.
Results elsewhere, the Carlos Tevez Affair and the grey suits of Gloucester Place also played their parts but Unsworth, whose reward was being released by the in-coming regime at the JJB Stadium, has borne the brunt ever since.
Fifteen months on and the defender is unsure whether it was a price worth paying.
"If I'd have known then what I know now, that Sheffield United would've gone down and I'd have been let go a couple of days later then I might not have even taken it," he told The Star.
"I can honestly say the times I had at United were some of the best and happiest of my career.
"But I'm honest enough to know that, because of what happened later on, unfortunately the way it's viewed has changed in the eyes of some people. I was doing my job at the time and, in any case, if you'd have told me that West Ham would've beaten Manchester United on the last day I wouldn't have believed you.
"For the fans its their life though. But there's no one, and I mean this, who wants to see Sheffield United go up more than me. It's a great club, a massive club and with great support that most other clubs would be proud to have. They can definitely do it."
Tonight's Carling Cup second round tie at Huddersfield promises to be a bitter-sweet experience for Unsworth who joined the League One club this summer after a brief stopover at Burnley.
Good mates with United midfielder Gary Speed, Unsworth is looking forward to the opportunity of pitting his wits against a team he believes is again destined for promotion.
But he also acknowledges the hand of friendship is unlikely to be extended by the travelling support.
He said: "I'll probably have to put in the ear plugs," he said. "I accept that.
"I wish it was different because of how I feel about the place but it's great to be a part of Huddersfield at the moment too.
"The manager has brought a lot of good players in, there's a young ambitious chairman who's given him his backing and who cut season ticket prices so we've sold 16,000.
"Everything here is geared for success and we've got to make sure we deliver it.
Importantly, we've got a lot of good characters in the dressing room and that's always a good asset to have.
"It's similar to the year we went up with United – there must have been seven or eight captains in there – and at half-time it was never a quiet place to be.
"On top of that it's the centenary year here so there's great expectation."
Which, of course, has been fuelled by the 2-1 victory Unsworth helped Huddersfield secure over Kevin Blackwell's side during pre-season.
FOOTBALLERS, by nature, are an unsentimental bunch.
'Have no regrets' and 'Move swiftly on to the next game' are golden rules of the dressing room.
But David Unsworth admits it would be tempting to turn back the clock.
To Sunday 13 May 2007 precisely.
Then, just over a year after helping Sheffield United reach the Premier League, Unsworth ensured their season-long love affair with England's elite ended in a messy, acrimonious divorce by converting the penalty which preserved Wigan's top-flight status at his former club's expense.
Results elsewhere, the Carlos Tevez Affair and the grey suits of Gloucester Place also played their parts but Unsworth, whose reward was being released by the in-coming regime at the JJB Stadium, has borne the brunt ever since.
Fifteen months on and the defender is unsure whether it was a price worth paying.
"If I'd have known then what I know now, that Sheffield United would've gone down and I'd have been let go a couple of days later then I might not have even taken it," he told The Star.
"I can honestly say the times I had at United were some of the best and happiest of my career.
"But I'm honest enough to know that, because of what happened later on, unfortunately the way it's viewed has changed in the eyes of some people. I was doing my job at the time and, in any case, if you'd have told me that West Ham would've beaten Manchester United on the last day I wouldn't have believed you.
"For the fans its their life though. But there's no one, and I mean this, who wants to see Sheffield United go up more than me. It's a great club, a massive club and with great support that most other clubs would be proud to have. They can definitely do it."
Tonight's Carling Cup second round tie at Huddersfield promises to be a bitter-sweet experience for Unsworth who joined the League One club this summer after a brief stopover at Burnley.
Good mates with United midfielder Gary Speed, Unsworth is looking forward to the opportunity of pitting his wits against a team he believes is again destined for promotion.
But he also acknowledges the hand of friendship is unlikely to be extended by the travelling support.
He said: "I'll probably have to put in the ear plugs," he said. "I accept that.
"I wish it was different because of how I feel about the place but it's great to be a part of Huddersfield at the moment too.
"The manager has brought a lot of good players in, there's a young ambitious chairman who's given him his backing and who cut season ticket prices so we've sold 16,000.
"Everything here is geared for success and we've got to make sure we deliver it.
Importantly, we've got a lot of good characters in the dressing room and that's always a good asset to have.
"It's similar to the year we went up with United – there must have been seven or eight captains in there – and at half-time it was never a quiet place to be.
"On top of that it's the centenary year here so there's great expectation."
Which, of course, has been fuelled by the 2-1 victory Unsworth helped Huddersfield secure over Kevin Blackwell's side during pre-season.
