Player News - Hudson-Odoi departs
Bradley Hudson-Odoi has left Wealdstone after an injury-filled season. Dec O’Reilly spoke to him.....
How would you evaluate your second spell at the club?
“It’s been great to be back, it’s been great to see the fans, the only disappointment is obviously I haven’t had an injury-free season. If you’re getting Bradley Hudson-Odoi when he’s fully fit then of course I’m going to be sharp, scoring goals. At the game against Slough [on New Year’s Day] I thought I had a really good performance but it’s just unfortunate that this year I’ve just had these little niggles that just haven’t gone away.
“I had my groin after the Billericay game at the start of the season but at the start of the season I had three goals in seven games and ever since I had that injury at Billericay my season has been stop-start with other little niggles that have come on. It’s obviously not gone the way that I wanted it to go but I’m feeling myself again and I was believing I was going to have a strong end to the season but unfortunately I’m leaving the club.”
You did really well in your first stint at Wealdstone. Was that something you were trying to replicate this season? Did the injuries throughout the season play a part?
“Yeah exactly. I had a fantastic period in my first stint at Wealdstone. It was great to be there, it was vibrant; the place was bouncing. I had a good manager Gordon Bartlett and I scored a lot of goals and I think this time ‘round I’ve had another fantastic manager, Bobby [Wilkinson], who has been brilliant.
“How he [Bobby Wilkinson] manages to keep a great side together like that with all the pressures from people changing upstairs and he doesn’t know who’s coming and going and what budget he’s got to work with. I think Bobby has done a marvellous job and if it wasn’t for him then I probably wouldn’t have been at Wealdstone this year. But it was him selling the club to me and telling me about the fans made me revive how I felt previously and that’s why I ended up coming back to the club. What a fantastic manager, what a fantastic group of management and group of lads [players] Wealdstone have as well and I wish them nothing but the best.”
I spoke to Stefan Brown on Pre-Match Live last Saturday before the Hungerford game and we spoke about you and Brown said you are “a bit of a joker” but also “a massive part of this team”. What’s it going to be like missing them players?
“Words can’t even put into context how I feel about missing them. We’re a family and I love all of them. It’s difficult, when you put it like that it’s very difficult to leave the club because those boys are like family to me. We laugh, we crack jokes; I see them as my brothers. It hurts me that I’m leaving such a great manager and such a great set of boys.”
Manager Bobby Wilkinson’s thoughts on Hudson-Odoi’s departure…
“Special player but most of all a special person. Absolutely loved working with him this year and I wish him every success. He knows I’m always at the other side of the phone if he needs me.”
Everyone at Wealdstone would like to thank Bradley for all his contribution to the club over his two spells and we wish him good luck on his next adventure.
