Contributor Question Plan

The following document includes: Contributor Details, date of Interview, and the Interview Questions to be asked.

Jonathan Grounds

13/11/11

1. The first time you pulled on a Boro shirt and stepped out on the Riverside pitch to face one of the most famous football clubs in the world back in 2008 must have been a dream come true.

2. What was going through your head before that game against Liverpool?

3. Were you pleased with the 1-1 draw or did you deserve a win?

4. How did you first get spotted by the Middlesbrough scouts?

5. Did you and your family have to make sacrifices to enable you to play football when you were younger?

6. Did you feel as though it was all worth it when you graduated from Middlesbrough’s academy and signed your first professional contract with the club you supported as a boy?

7. Growing up, who were your idols and the players you looked up to?

8. Did you ever have moments when you thought you wouldn’t make it as a footballer? If yes, how did you cope with that?

9. What advice would you give to a player looking for a career in professional football?

10. Some top premiership footballers have come up through Boro’s academy, a few of whom you’ll know well. How highly do you rate their academy?

11. Scoring your first goal for your home town club against Swansea City last season must have been an incredible feeling despite narrowly losing the match.

12. Take me through that goal.

13. Your favoured playing position is left back, but you also have experience in central defence. Are you overly bothered about where you play or are you just happy to be on the pitch?

14. You’ve been loaned out to a few clubs now, are you happy to move away in order to gain regular first team experience or would you rather stay at Boro and fight for your place?

15. Out of all the clubs you’ve played for, which team have you most enjoyed playing in?

16. You’ve played in the premier league, championship, league 1 and the Scottish premiership. How do the leagues compare and did you find a huge difference in class?

17. What is it about football that you love?

18. Who are your best friends in football?

19. Have you come across any real characters at any of the clubs you’ve played for?

20. What is the most special match you’ve been involved in?

21. Some people have the stereotypical view that the modern day footballer is overpaid and impassionate. How would you respond to that?

22. You’ve made over 30 appearances for Boro’s first team, and you’ve said in the past that playing for Boro means a lot to you personally, but do you see your long term future there or do you think a permanent move away may soon be on the cards?

23. Who is the best player you have played alongside and why?

24. Who is the best player you’ve ever played against and why?

25. Finally, do you believe your parent club Middlesbrough has what it takes to mount a serious promotion challenge?



Malcolm Crosby

28/01/12

1. Take me through a typical working day in the life of a professional football coach.

2. How do you look back on your playing career and is there anything you would change?

3. Did you ever have the opportunity to play for a so called ‘big’ club or a club in the North East?

4. At which club did you enjoy your playing days the most?

5. Do you have a stand out memory of your playing days?

6. Do you feel that being a former professional has helped you to coach?

7. Why did you decide to go into coaching?

8. What have you learned from your previous jobs?

9. What do you think makes a good coach?

10. You must be grateful to Sunderland for giving you your first break in management.

11. One of your best achievements must be leading Sunderland to the FA Cup final. What do you remember about that day?

12. Being from the local area, was it a dream come true to manage Sunderland?

13. Did you always hope you’d one day be involved with Sunderland or Newcastle United or neither?

14. What do you make of the amount of money involved in football these days and the hefty sums players get paid?

15. Since you were at Sunderland, you haven’t had a permanent managerial contract. Do you hope to one day return to management?

16. Do you feel at all bitter towards the way your career at Sunderland and Middlesbrough ended?

17. Which club have you enjoyed being a part of the most?

18. Have you ever had the opportunity to coach / manage a so called ‘top’ club?

19. Do you hope to one day return to your native North East?

20. Which other well known football figures do you get on particularly well with?

21. Over the years, you’ll have worked with many ‘characters’. Who stands out and why?

22. You must have experienced many highs and lows during your career. What are your stand out moments?

23. Finally, do you have any regrets?