Yes. I think I may have posted this a couple of months ago, but it suggests that Hammill could be an improbable but effective mentor to young Ryan:
Is it fair to say you fell out of love with the game?
Most definitely. I’ll be honest, I fell on hard times. I wasn’t mentally in the right place, and with that time away from the game I realised that things needed to be changed in my life. My daughter was born, which helped as it gave me added responsibility. I wanted her to be guided by me in the right way, and to look up to her Dad and be proud of him. As I say, I work with a life coach called Brian McCready, and we set ourselves targets with the aim of, hopefully, one day getting back to the top. The journey so far has been a rewarding one, and not only am I enjoying my training and the games, I am back in love with the game. I feel like a kid again, to be honest!
Barnsley's Adam Hammill scores his side's first goal of the game during the Sky Bet League One Play-Off, Second Leg at Banks's Stadium, Walsall. Martin Rickett/PA Wire.
You were always a bright young thing coming up, but have you added a bit more maturity to your game now?
I think that’s the exact word, maturity. I’m more of a complete footballer now.
I do the dirty side of the game. I’ve always been a creative player, but now I actually relish getting back, winning my tackles, winning my headers and working for the team. I think everyone at Barnsley would say they can rely on me in that sense.
You’ve obviously had some good advice recently then?
Absolutely. My agent, Neil Sang, has been a massive influence along with my family. My brothers, my Mum and Dad, my girlfriend Lauren; they’ve all come together to support me. My agent spoke about the discipline side of things, and it’s a massive thing. I remember when we met, and he said ‘you’re not a bad lad.’ I think people’s perception of me was a different to how I really was, and it was about time I changed that image. It’s been a really rewarding season in that people are noticing me not only as a player but as a person too, as a family man who has grown up a lot. I felt like I’ve let myself down in the past, so it’s a big thing for me to re-establish myself.
You’ve had a taste of the Premier League and the Championship. Do you still have ambitions to play at the top?
Of course. As a footballer, you’ve got to set targets. If you fall short, then at least you can look at yourself and say you tried your best and gave it your all. The last time I played in the Premier League, and certain times in the Championship, I couldn’t do that. That’s the truth. I could have done more, and that’s a motivation for me this time around, to put that right. I’ve got my second child due in August, so I have new targets and ambitions to aim for. If you work hard, success will come.
You grew up at Liverpool, your boyhood club. Can it be difficult for a player to handle leaving somewhere like that?
It can be a little bit overawing. I grew up a fan, and so to be mixing it with the stars in training was surreal. It was a pleasure to train with Gerrard, Carragher and all them every day. But as time went on, I had a few loan spells, and I felt that I was deserving of a chance. I was doing well in the reserves, and it was disheartening to see other players get pushed ahead of you. Maybe then I started doing things I wouldn’t normally do, I was a little less professional. I wish now I had that maturity to do things differently, but that’s growing up. It’s a life experience and I wouldn’t change it.
What advice would you give the 18-year-old Adam Hammill then?
I’d say to
go into training, work hard do, everything right on and off the pitch and give yourself the best possible chance of making it. There’s nothing worse than looking back with regret and thinking ‘I wish I could have done that’ or ‘I should have been this.’ I never want to do that. I want to look at myself when I retire and be proud of myself.
Still a big Liverpool fan?
Of course. I get to as many games as possible. Obviously I’m gutted about what happened in Basel but I’m excited for the future under Jurgen Klopp. I think we’ll be right up there challenging under him.
