PLAYER INTERVIEW: Sam Verdon

‘Hopefully we’ll be able to pick up from where we left off a couple of months ago’

Interview by Andrew Dempsey

Since joining Longford Town in 2017, Sam Verdon has established himself as one of the First Division’s leading stars. 

Longford Town began their 2020 campaign with two wins from two over both Shamrock Rovers II and Drogheda United, with the Dubliner scoring the winner against the Boynesiders at United Park. 

After such a strong start, the 24-year-old said that he is hoping that De Town can pick up from where they left off whenever football resumes. 

“It feels like we haven’t been fully back at it since last September but there’s nothing we can really do about it,” he told LTFC.ie. 

“I’m just hoping we can get back as soon as possible and pick up from where we left off after two good results. 

“It will probably feel like a new season when we do eventually come back but hopefully, we can pick up from where we left off. 

“We had two very good results against Shamrock Rovers B and Drogheda. Shamrock Rovers B will take points off people, they’re a good side and they’ll do ok. 

“After last year Drogheda would probably be the favourites to win the league in terms of them finishing second and doing well in the Playoffs. 

“But for us to go up there and beat them and play the way we did, it showed a bit of bottle and steel that probably cost us last year, and that was a good sign. 

“You would hope that when we come back, we’ll be able to pick up from where we left off a couple of months ago.” 

However, despite many of his Longford teammates training on their own in recent weeks, the former St Patrick’s Athletic youngster has been training with his younger brother Adam (currently with UCD’s under-19s). 

“I’ve been out running with him in the last few weeks,” Verdon told LTFC.ie.

“It makes it a lot easier if you do want to do some sort of ball work when you have someone with you. 

“In terms of the running you have someone to push you and drive you on. You don’t want to be beat by your younger brother and in fairness he’s fit enough so he has me on my toes! 

“I’ve been doing some runs on my own and I do feel sorry for lads who are on their own doing runs because it’s mentally tough to motivate yourself and it’s not enjoyable but it has to be done.” 

But in a group setting, Verdon and his teammates have been training remotely – with Zoom proving to be a valuable asset for both first-team players and staff. 

“The Zoom sessions have been good, and they’re different to the kind of training that we would be used to,” he adds.  

“It has been good seeing the lads and having a bit of craic for 45 minutes or so. It’s been welcomed and it’s good to get that variety in training.”