Brian Howard - Barnsley
When Brian Howard scored the winning goal at Anfield in the FA Cup he shot to national prominence. The Barnsley midfielder, who started his career at Chelsea, then played a huge role in his side knocking out Avram Grant's men at the quarter final stage. However, the fairytale didn't quite come true for the Tykes as Cardiff dampened their fire in the semi final and left Barnsley to concentrate on a relegation battle in the Championship. They emerged unscathed to face another season in the second tier of English football and with their profile raised markedly. Howard is a man in demand and was named in the PFA Divisional Team of the year, which is a huge achievement bearing in mind Barnsley's final league position. Givemefootball's Ian Clarkson spoke exclusively to Howard about his achievements this season and what he regarded as his best moment in a campaign of many.
Q: REACHING THE FA CUP SEMI FINAL, SCORING THE WINNING GOAL AT ANFIELD AND BEING NAMED IN THE PFA DIVISIONAL TEAM OF THE YEAR – WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR BIGGEST ACHIEVEMENT THIS SEASON?
A: Being selected in the PFA divisional team of the year is the biggest thing I have ever got in my career so far. I am 24-years old and there have been some good things this year, which everyone obviously knows about that has put me in the public eye but this is the biggest thing I have got I my career.
Q: WHAT MAKES THIS AWARD SO SPECIAL?
A: I have won player of the year at Barnsley and places I have been at but for your fellow professionals to vote you into the team of the season makes me so proud. My family are so proud that I have won it and it is a great achievement. It really does mean something to me to have won this award. You start the season and you pick the best eleven players in your league for the Sun's Dream Team and to make the cut at the end of the season by players who have played against you week in and week out and picked you is the biggest achievement you could possibly imagine.
Q: AND YOU WON THIS AWARD WHILST PLAYING IN A STRUGGLING SIDE?
A: We have played in a struggling team this season and the guys at the PFA have said that I am one of the first people to be selected from a team that has finished in the bottom five. However, while we have struggled in the league we reached the FA Cup semi final so it has been a great effort.
Q: THERE HAVE BEEN LOTS OF HIGHS EVEN THOUGH YOU BATTLED AGAINST RELEGATION?
A: It has been a very good season for the club and myself and we have been in the national spotlight. People know me for what I have done this year and it has also been a long season as I have played over 50-odd games this year! I can look back and say we are safe from relegation which is an achievement and we reached the FA Cup semi final, beating Liverpool and Chelsea along the way so it has been enjoyable.
Q: HOW DO YOU THINK BARNSLEY WILL FARE NEXT SEASON?
A: I have still got a year left on my contract at Barnsley but I know there are a few clubs who want to put bids in so we will have to wait and see what happens.
