[Albion] Lewis Dunk: 'My ambition for now is to make it as a pro'

Bozza · Oct 7, 2018

16-y-o Dunk interview with The Guardian in 2008:

"My ambition for now is to make it as a pro," he says, reservedly. But surely he allows himself to dream? "I've not really thought about it." Would he have the mental strength to cope with 40,000 fans on his back? "I think so. If you're going through a rough period in a game, how you deal with it is what's really important. It's what really matters."

All here >>> https://www.theguardian.com/football/2008/feb/20/brighton

Weststander · Oct 7, 2018

Cheers.

Time flies, I remember that article and another in about 2013?

In his early days in the first team he stood out as a natural leader and despite his youth, never taking a backward step against bullies.

We're the Stripes · Oct 7, 2018

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/b/brighton/9006304.stm

Gus may have been lots of things, but he was pretty on the money with Dunk, both in his early assessment of his ability/potential, and the faith he showed in him when El-Abd got injured ahead of that first season at the Amex. He played a crucial part in Lewis’ development, no doubting it.

Thunder Bolt · Oct 7, 2018

We're the Stripes said:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/b/brighton/9006304.stm

Gus may have been lots of things, but he was pretty on the money with Dunk, both in his early assessment of his ability/potential, and the faith he showed in him when El-Abd got injured ahead of that first season at the Amex. He played a crucial part in Lewis’ development, no doubting it.

I remember his debut at MK.

BN41Albion · Oct 7, 2018

Great find, so interesting to read 10 years on. Had a read of the comments too. This one really shows how quickly things can change in sport:

'Without our very fine youth system we may not have a club to support bearing in mind last night was our lowest league attendance at the awful Withdean stadium. The sooner we get Falmer the more chance we have of keeping our best youth products. Over the past 5 years we have sold on Zamora, Virgo, Harding, Knight, Kazim-Richards Danny Cullip, Darren Currie & more recently Dean Hammond all for vast profits without this additional income I fear we would be down with Bournemouth & Luton in administration.'

Ninja Elephant · Oct 7, 2018

Thunder Bolt said:
I remember his debut at MK.

Me too. I got in just in time for kick off and assumed it was Tommy Elphick playing at the back, it wasn't until much later that I found out it was a debutant centre back. What a debut, you'd never have guessed he hadn't played that standard before. Top player, deserves the call up.

It doesn't seem all that long ago we were driving him to Fulham for their £5million though!

CP 0 3 BHA · Oct 7, 2018

BN41Albion said:
Great find, so interesting to read 10 years on. Had a read of the comments too. This one really shows how quickly things can change in sport:

'Without our very fine youth system we may not have a club to support bearing in mind last night was our lowest league attendance at the awful Withdean stadium. The sooner we get Falmer the more chance we have of keeping our best youth products. Over the past 5 years we have sold on Zamora, Virgo, Harding, Knight, Kazim-Richards Danny Cullip, Darren Currie & more recently Dean Hammond all for vast profits without this additional income I fear we would be down with Bournemouth & Luton in administration.'

I also like the comment about Murray scoring - more than 10 years on and some things don't change!

Thunder Bolt · Oct 7, 2018

Ninja Elephant said:
Me too. I got in just in time for kick off and assumed it was Tommy Elphick playing at the back, it wasn't until much later that I found out it was a debutant centre back. What a debut, you'd never have guessed he hadn't played that standard before. Top player, deserves the call up.

It doesn't seem all that long ago we were driving him to Fulham for their £5million though!

Tommy Elphick was the other CB that day, and they looked quite similar, so from a distance it was hard to tell them apart.

Dick Head · Oct 8, 2018

He's one of my favourites.

Wozza · Oct 8, 2018

"Lew-Du" never caught on, luckily. (Suggested in comments)

hans kraay fan club · Oct 8, 2018

Thunder Bolt said:
I remember his debut at MK.

So do I. Terrific performance, in a terrible, dull match. His debut was the bright spot. At the end we clapped them off, and as we were packing up to leave, I said to the big bald guy in the seat directly behind me, how well the new lad had coped. He agreed and grinned - and introduced himself as Dunk's dad :thumbsup:

Thunder Bolt said:
Tommy Elphick was the other CB that day, and they looked quite similar, so from a distance it was hard to tell them apart.

Elphick was terrific that day, nursing Dunk through - as Dunk himself made clear in his comments after the game.

Greg Bobkin · Oct 8, 2018

Ninja Elephant said:
Me too. I got in just in time for kick off and assumed it was Tommy Elphick playing at the back, it wasn't until much later that I found out it was a debutant centre back. What a debut, you'd never have guessed he hadn't played that standard before. Top player, deserves the call up.

It doesn't seem all that long ago we were driving him to Fulham for their £5million though!

You? Almost being late for something? Surely not...

Don't ever change, Ninja :lol:

mejonaNO12 aka riskit · Oct 8, 2018

Mad to think he only had 4 Championship starts as short a time ago as 2013/14 season.

He wasn't even in the matchday squad many times.

Glad he stayed.

Stat Brother · Oct 8, 2018

mejonaNO12 aka riskit said:
Mad to think he only had 4 Championship starts as short a time ago as 2013/14 season.

He wasn't even in the matchday squad many times.

Glad he stayed.

One of the hardest jobs in football:-

Becoming a first choice centre back for Brighton.

It would seem any chump of the street can be singed as first choice centre forward.

turienzo's lovechild · Oct 8, 2018

Does Sami Hyypia deserve some credit here? Probably the only good thing he did but Dunk didn’t play much under Garcia but Upson left that summer and Sami put Dunk in. To be honest he was one of the only players who performed well in the Hyypia era- perhaps Dunk learnt a lot from the former Centre Back.

You’ve also got to admire Dunk for his determination to bounce back from a troubling off field period, losing his place in the team and (as I remember it) a fairly unsuccessful loan period at Bristol.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

chaileyjem · Oct 8, 2018

Stat Brother said:
One of the hardest jobs in football:-

Becoming a first choice centre back for Brighton.

It would seem any chump of the street can be singed as first choice centre forward.

Glenn Murray must be a chump then. #neverwrong.

Stat Brother · Oct 8, 2018

Gazwag · Oct 8, 2018

Ninja Elephant said:
It doesn't seem all that long ago we were driving him to Fulham for their £5million though!

I think most of us in the crowd at Fulham that day when he was dropped for Humemeier thought "that's it he's gone" as he was walking to the bench on his own clapping us.

aolstudios · Oct 8, 2018

hans kraay fan club said:
So do I. Terrific performance, in a terrible, dull match. His debut was the bright spot. At the end we clapped them off, and as we were packing up to leave, I said to the big bald guy in the seat directly behind me, how well the new lad had coped. He agreed and grinned - and introduced himself as Dunk's dad

Elphick was terrific that day, nursing Dunk through - as Dunk himself made clear in his comments after the game.

Yep. Big Gordon also did a great job talking Lewis through games, first season at the Amex

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[Albion] Lewis Dunk: 'My ambition for now is to make it as a pro'

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