Wes Hoolahan says that playing for Cambridge United was a ‘great honour’ as it was announced that he is leaving the Club after two seasons with the U’s…
66 appearances, eight goals, 17 assists and one promotion. Statistics don’t do a player like Hoolahan justice though. Any U’s fan who has had the pleasure of watching him over the past two years will know that he brings an unquantifiable joy to a game of football that can’t be measured with numbers.
His impact on the Club and the players around him was immense. Ask any United teammates who the best player they have played with is, most – if not all – will say Wes.
Discussing his time with the U’s, Hoolahan said it exceeded all expectations. “If you told me before I signed that this would happen, I wouldn’t have believed you, Hoolahan said. “I couldn’t have asked for anything more from the two years I had.
“To play as much as I did and for us to have achieved what we did, it has been a really special part of my life and career.
“The day we won promotion is the day that will live with me the longest. Nobody gave us a chance that season and for us to finally get over the line – after a bit of a wobble - and then to celebrate with the fans on the roof was definitely my biggest highlight. Just an unbelievable day, season and moment for the Club.”
Following promotion, Hoolahan signed a new contract to keep him at the Abbey as the U’s embarked on the journey into League One, with supporters back in stadiums for the first time in over a year.
“This last season was brilliant, too. Again, nobody gave us a chance but to compete the way we did against some massive teams and to do as well as we did was fantastic. We had so many great games both at home and away and to do it in-front of our fans was magic.
“I can’t thank the fans enough. They followed us everywhere this season and the Abbey was incredible. The atmosphere was electric and it was a pleasure to play in. It was pretty special to hear them sing my name as often as they did – it makes the hairs stand up on the back of your neck - so I feel like I had a good relationship with the fans.”
Most of all, Hoolahan says that it was his teammates which made playing for Cambridge United most special and he credits this and the culture created by Mark Bonner as the biggest factor in the U’s success.
“It is a special group of players and that is the main reason we achieved so much. All the players and staff pull in the same direction and it is quite special. I want to wish them and the Club as a whole all the best for next season and beyond.
“I will always be looking out for Cambridge scores now and follow as a fan. It was a great honour to play for the Club.”