Having signed his new 12 month extension the other day at the Amex Stadium, midfielder Steve Sidwell has been speaking of his delight at getting the opportunity to play his part in Brighton’s first Premier League campaign.
Having come through the ranks at Arsenal, Sidwell joined Brighton way back in 2002 on a loan spell and he knows since then the club have certainly been on a wonderful journey across the years.
Speaking to the Official Site he was obviously delighted to have played a part in that journey by securing promotion last season.
‘From the days at the Withdean, who would of thought we`d be playing Premier League football in a lovely stadium like the Amex, against some of the greatest footballers in the world? I`m delighted to sign a new deal. It was obviously the main reason why I came to the club, to get back into the Premier League. I saw the visions of everyone, it was an achievable goal and we`ve done that.’
With it known Sidwell was after an extension this summer following his arrival from Stoke, once the deal was offered it took no time at all to get it signed.
‘It was a no-brainer. After dotting the I`s and crossing the T`s, it was all done fairly quickly. I`ve been on holiday with the kids, so that obviously took priority, but I`m glad it`s all done and dusted now. I left Stoke to come to Brighton and achieve a goal, and it was one that we could all see in the near future. The season before last was a blessing in disguise, we were mentally stronger this year. It`s a nice feeling to be back in the Premier League, it`s going to be tough but it`s a challenge that we should all be looking forward to.’
Commenting on manager Chris Hughton and reflecting back on last season, Sidwell went on to add.
‘I`ve been fortunate enough to work under some of the best coaches in the world throughout my career, and he`s definitely one of them. He`s been brilliant, especially with me being a senior pro. It`s great to get the deal over the line and work with him again. You always want to play more games, but I understand there`s going to be squad rotation throughout the season. But on the whole, I think I performed to a decent level during the season, hence being offered a new contract and given the chance to stake a place in Brighton`s Premier League team.’
