“If you don’t concede you won’t lose games. It’s great to see the clean sheets”
Antony Ioannou in conversation with Stuart Fitzsimon
When one thinks of the great London defences, the Old Roman Wall or Thames Barrier spring to mind. But in recent times the emergence of a defence created in a small corner of Walthamstow in East London is becoming every bit as impressive in its impregnability.
But as with the afore mentioned structures, this was not an something achieved overnight, and is constantly needing to adapt and change to prevent the bombardment of the ESL.
The defence created by John Mackie and Terry Spillane also has a team behind the scenes working to maintain and look for improvements wherever possible.
The back four this season have proved to be a model of consistency with 24 clean sheets so far, but there is one further line of protection that makes up the back five; our keeper Amarildo Cekrezi, who was recently described as ‘unreal’ by manager Terry Spillane.
But who is it that puts him through his paces and keeps him performing at such a consistent level and the Rabble chanting to opposing fans “Don’t you wish your keeper was Cekrezi!”
Well it’s Ant Ioannou, Walthamstow’s goalkeeping coach and today he tells us his part in the formation and upkeep of the foundations of this impressive unit that is turning Wadham Lodge in to a real fortress.
Hi Ant, thanks for taking the time to do this. So what is your football background, where you always a goal keeper?
Well my background in goalkeeping started at 10 when I was at primary school. We didn’t have a keeper so I got the job and we ended up winning the league, so it was a pretty good year.
Do you ever get the gloves back on, and when was your last game?
I still play regularly on Sundays in a local league around the Enfield area and also join in for the sessions with the Walthamstow boys.
You bring a bit of youth to our management, what lead you to coaching so early?
Well, a little bit of youth!! The truth is I wasn’t good enough to play at this level, but I just love football and if I could help out in anyway then that’s exactly what I wanted to do.
How did you end up coaching with Walthamstow FC?
Terry made the call to me at the start of last season telling me that Walthamstow were looking for a goalkeeping coach. I had worked with Terry at my last club and he is a fantastic manager and an even better person. This year John and Gaz have come on board and have instilled a real winning mentality. John is like a walking football encyclopaedia, he wants every piece of information on the opposition. It’s been a privilege being here.
We lost our pre-season keeper just before the season started, how disruptive was that?
Of course, losing our keeper a week before the season started could of been a big problem for us. We had a meeting with the management staff and having worked with Amarildo before I knew exactly what he could offer us. It’s been a case of far so good and we’ve never looked back,
So Amarildo, stepped in late, how did this come about?
Amarildo was our keeper at Terry, Gaz’s and my last club New Salamis. We got lucky that he wasn’t playing; keepers of his quality don’t come along everyday. He hadn’t signed for a club and we managed to get him to come to us.
What’s he like to work with?
He’s a great keeper to work with and takes everything on board. He wants to be the best he can be for himself and the club.
Were there any communication issues between Amarildo, yourself or the squad?
Amarildo and I both speak English and Greek, he was born in Albania but lived in Greece. Communication was not an issue, he’s very well educated and I believe he also speaks French.
Stuart: I was more concerned by our back four’s English, have you heard our left back! (We all dream of a team of Tommy Spillanes)
Anyway he’s started brilliantly and that hasn’t changed, but he looks like he’s grown into a real squad member now.
He’s a fantastic person and great to work with and all the players love him. It’s also shown in him playing every single league game this season, Mr Dependable.
Do you get as much satisfaction from clean sheets as Amarildo and the defence.
100%. John has really made me believe this as well, if you don’t concede you won’t lose games. It’s great to see the clean sheets.
From a personal perspective then what has been your most satisfying performance this season?
I think the 1-0 win against Redbridge. It was a proper professional performance, getting the job done when we weren’t great. Amarildo kept us in the game, but we kept the clean sheet and got through it.
You’ve got to hand it to the Rabble, fitting “Cekrezi” in a song, does Amarildo hear it as he’s always a fair distance from the Rabble usually?
He does hear it and he honestly loves the fans so much, he always goes on about them after the game to me.
And finally, rumour has it that you scored a beauty in pre season for Walthamstow, would you like to tell us about it?
This is true, but if I tell you about it John might remove me from the group!!!
But you’re going to?
Yeah!!! A cross came in from a former player of ours Cacey. I was on hand at the back stick to volley it in and perform a roly poly celebration! Were you there when I scored??
Stuart: Yeah it was a thing of beauty, with a celebration to match. But as JJ, John and I were the only witnesses it was a story that needed telling. I’m sure the Rabble would still sing about it if there had been more than 3 of us there that day!
Ant, thanks for talking to us today and we all wish you and the back five well. As we’ve been told strikers win matches but defences win leagues, let’s hope it comes to pass and keep the rest of the league wishing their keeper was “Cekrezi” and their goalkeeping coach was Ant.
It’s been a privilege being here and I hope we can get the job done at the end of the season. Up the Stow!
Cheers Ant, you’re a star!
Always believe, and remember, there’s only 2 Terry Spillanes
Quick-fire 10
Drink – Vodka Red Bull
Cuisine – Greek
Choc bar/crisp flavour – Milky bar
TV show – Only Fools and Horses
Film – The Hangover
Band/musician – Drake
Song – Ardee – Flowers, at the moment
Season – Summer
Holiday destination – Cyprus
Other sports – Tennis, table tennis and boxing
Top Football 5 outside of Walthamstow
Team – Chelsea
Away Ground – White Hart Lane
Player – Gianfranco Zola
Match attended – 2012 Champions League final
GOAT – Gianluigi Buffon
