Josh Archer programme interview
Posted : 8th January 2022
'Look at Linfield’ this week catches up with 18-year-old Linfield Swifts captain Joshua Archer who says he’s itching to be involved against Oxford Sunnyside at Windsor Park in the Irish Cup today.
“I would love to be in the squad to play against Oxford Sunnyside, but that’s no different to any other week, because that’s where I want to be. I want to push on and get in the squad as much as I can. Linfield have incredible history in the Irish Cup and the stakes are high in it. We will prepare properly for this game, as that’s the Linfield way. We will be professional and look to perform as we always do.”
Archer is certainly living the dream. As a boy, he’d have grown up watching Jamie Mulgrew in action and now, he’s sometimes playing alongside the long-serving inspirational Linfield captain.
“From an early age, I just loved watching any football match but as I got into the game more, I loved going to watch Linfield, so it was amazing to join the club from Ridgeway at U14 level.”
Unfortunately, the midfielder’s Christmas was dampened somewhat, as Linfield Swifts were edged out 1-0 by Newington in the Steel and Sons Cup final at Seaview on Christmas morning but he believes it can be used as a learning curve, to drive the players on. It was also a moment of reflection, as he captained the Swifts two years on from the previous final when he was an unused 16-year-old substitute.
“On the day, I don’t think we showed up. I think it was a massive learning curve though for all of us who were involved in it because getting beat in any game isn’t nice but getting beat in a cup final is even worse. Newington made their extra experience count.
“It was a massive honour to captain the lads. I was on the bench and was much more inexperienced in the previous final two years ago, so I always look back and remind myself how far I’ve come, as that motivates me to progress even further.”
One thing that can inspire him to drive on further is the recently launched Linfield scholarship scheme. Josh was one of six young players to sign up – Callum Marshall was another, but he signed for West Ham this week. The former Ridgeway youth believes it’s a great initiative by the club.
“I think the club’s new scholarship scheme is really good. It gives players a good opportunity to see what full time football is like, even if they aren’t going to make it across the water. I also think that it will benefit any player, as you’re training everyday with experienced players and, obviously at Linfield, the players are quality, so it’s really good for developing and improving.”
Josh made his first team debut in October 2020 and it really was a night to remember, as he came off the bench to score in a 6-0 League Cup win over PSNI. Reflecting on the debut, he says it was a great feeling and it left him hungry to play on a more regular basis.
“It was an unbelievable feeling to score on my debut against PSNI last season. Words can’t describe how happy I felt. It was quite hard after that, as I didn’t play for the first team for the rest of the season after that. It was tough as I’d had a taste of it and once you get that, you’re hungry for more. You don’t want it to stop but it motivated me to push on and put the work in to try and earn another opportunity. At Linfield, opportunities aren’t handed out to anyone; there are so many good players here that you have to work hard to earn everything you get.”
“It’s been brilliant getting so many opportunities this season, especially against the likes of Ballymena United and Cliftonville because they are very good teams and I enjoy the challenge against them. I feel it’s been very beneficial for me personally, to have played in those matches, as it was a massive experience for me against good experienced players.”
Prior to Josh, the previous captain in a Linfield Swifts' Steel and Sons cup final team was Trai Hume and days after Trai secured a move to Sunderland, Josh will no doubt aim to follow Trai's example and become a regular in the Linfield first team squad