Dean Kiely has played in all four leagues in English football during a career that has spanned 15 years in the professional game. He surprisingly found himself out in the cold at Portsmouth after helping them to retain their Premier League status this season but has gone on loan to Luton Town in a bid to simply sample first team action again. Givemefootball's Ian Clarkson caught up with Kiely to find out how he is enjoying life at Kenilworth Road.
Q:HOW DID YOU FEEL ABOUT DROPPING OUT OF THE PREMIER TO GET FIRST TEAM FOOTBALL?
A:Well, I spent almost ten years getting to the Premiership and learned my trade outside it, so it really wasn't any hardship joining Luton Town. I only hope I'm making a contribution there. I'm not the sort who enjoys sitting on his backside and just picking up his money. I've played 664 games in my career and the first half of them were in the lower leagues. I'm proud of that. There are not too many people who have played in all four divisions and nothing fazes me in the game anymore. Hopefully, I can play until I'm 40, so there's still a bit of life in me yet!
Q:WHAT IS THE SITUATION AT LUTON?
A:I'm on a month's loan, it's as simple as that. I don't know what I'll be doing beyond that, to be honest. I've got a simple outlook. I try to train like a demon and play football. I wasn't playing at Portsmouth, for whatever reason, and so I've come somewhere I can.
Q:ARE YOU BITTER ABOUT THAT?
A:There's very little point being bitter. It is a wasted emotion as far as I'm concerned. The road to the Premiership didn't just open up for me. I've always enjoyed playing football and I've got no god-given right to be there. I'm a big believer that you reap what you sow. I've got a good work ethic and I'm certain that if I keep working hard I will get my just desserts.
Q:DO YOU THINK ABOUT RE-STARTING YOUR INTERNATIONAL CAREER WITH THE REPUBLIC?
A:I did speak to Steve Staunton and said that I would help out if he was really stuck. But I retired from international football to prolong my club career. I'm fiercely patriotic and will treasure the eight caps I received. But club football is my bread and butter and I wanted to concentrate on that.
Q:DO YOU LOOK BACK ON YOUR TIME AT CHARLTON WITH FOND MEMORIES?
A:Yes, you cannot spend the time I did at the Valley and not have a lot of feeling towards it. Charlton try to look after their players as best they can and that's an admirable quality in any football club. I might have left now but I wish the club itself - and the supporters who were by and large very supportive of me - nothing but success...unless, of course, I'm playing against them!
Q:DO YOU FEEL YOU CAN GO ON UNTIL YOU'RE 40?
A:Well, I don't carry any weight - I'm lucky in that respect. I don't think my shape is too bad - and I throw myself about in training and work hard. I'm 36 now and I know what I can do and what I can't. I can't stress enough that I work really hard on Monday to Friday in order to be in the best shape possible for the game at the weekend. That has carried me this far and at the moment, I don't see why I should change it in the future.
