Born in Drogheda, Ireland, it's easy to forget that Alan O'Hare is still only 21 years old, he's gone well past fifty first team appearances for The Spireites after his initial loan spell from Bolton Wanderers and subsequent permanent contract, signed in October last year.
Alan Patrick James O'Hare came into the World on 31st July 1982 and as a youngster was very keen on participating in sport, "I used to play two games of soccer on a Saturday and two games of Gaelic Football on a Sunday". His soccer experience started with a local side called Rangers, he then got picked up for County honours and played in the Milk Cup in Coleraine where he was spotted by no less than Manchester United. Aged 16, he came over for a trial with them for a couple of months and then Bolton offered a three year scholarship contract. "I'm glad I chose soccer, there are some nutters in Gaelic and you get really hurt! I totally whimped out of hurling though."
"Stuart Pearce was my footballing hero," says Alan, "I supported Nottingham Forest as a kid. I once came over for a pre season match and was a ball boy when Pearce played. He's still my hero. If I become half as good as him and I have half the career he had I'll be very happy."
As for his time at The Reebok Stadium, "It was a kick start to my career, I've played around some very good players, Jay Jay Okocha, Youri Djorkaeff, so you learn a lot, I learned a lot from Mike Whitlow, who's now at Sheffield United. I looked up to the pro's, watched the football, watched how they played and tried myself to emulate them, copy them as best I could." He played for the Academy, reserves and got into the first team squad but didn't make any first team appearances before he was spotted by Dave Rushbury. "It was after a game against Aston Villa when I was marking another hero of mine, Steve Stone, who used to be at Forest, I was Captain, played really well. Rush watched another couple of games and asked me to come down on loan. "
Alan's Spireites debut was at Tranmere Rovers' Prenton Park on February 2nd last year, he recalls, "I came down on the Thursday and Dave said I was playing on the Friday alongside Ian Breckin and Steve Payne in a back three. It was 0-0, I marked Paul Rideout and Wayne Allison, so I was nervous but I feel everyone has a good debut, they're so pumped up for it, the hard bit is doing it every week. I played well at Tranmere and we got a result which was the main thing."
Alan played every game between then and the end of the season and went back to Bolton with glowing reports from Rush and Lee Richardson who said they'd keep in contact. "My last loan game was against Blackpool at Saltergate, I went back to Bolton and the following Wednesday I played in their reserves at Sunderland on a cold night and my aim immediately became a spot in the Bolton first team. I featured in the pre season build up but when the chance to come back here permanently arose I chose to return to Chesterfield. It was a hard decision but the right one."
At Bolton, his target had been individual performances in the reserves to hope he got the first team nod, result were less important, but as a Spireites first teamer, the pressures were different, "I was now part of a first team, winning games becomes the most important thing, this is the real thing, I'm playing and earning my keep now and I wouldn't change playing for Chesterfield for the World. I'm learning my trade here and I hope I can be with Chesterfield for another few years, gain experience and help the Club stay in this Division. We've a small squad and have struggled with injuries this season but we've a good team spirit which will show through in the end and I think we'll survive, no problem!"
He did of course grab our first goal (and his first senior goal) of the season in the 1-1 draw with Bristol City, "I thought it was a cracker. I waited for the ball to come in and with my predatory instincts, I hit it as low and as hard as I could, it hit the back of the net, there's no feeling like it! It's as good as it gets in football, especially in front of your home crowd."
Alan has of course played as a centre half, as one of three defenders and at left back and wing back, but what is his favoured role? "I'll play anywhere if asked, it's an honour to play, that's first and foremost, to stay in the team. I'm comfortable at left back but in a couple of years I see myself as a centre half, I did well there last year, but I'll do whatever I'm asked to do on the left hand side, no problem."
His aspirations for this year, "first and foremost, survival, you're only as good as your last game and as a footballer, you only look to your next game. Long term though, I'd like to be in the game as long as I can and obviously I'd like to play in the Premiership one day, I'd even like International recognition in the future, but playing at Chesterfield right now is where I'm happy."
By PHIL TOOLEY
