A rare audience with former England manager Gareth Southgate has helped new Luton boss Matt Bloomfield prepare for a Championship hotseat, though he believes it’s a job he’s been building up to for years.
The 40-year-old was named the Hatters’ new chief on Tuesday and today he’ll lead them out at Kenilworth Road for the first time, to face Preston North End.
As a player, Bloomfield’s entire 19-year career was spent in the Wycombe Wanderers midfield, and bar a few months in charge of Colchester United, as his first spell in dugout, the Buckinghamshire side is where he’s managed.
The Chairboys are currently on course to win promotion to the Championship, scoring a League One highest 50 goals so far, so there was every chance Bloomfield would manage in the Championship sooner rather than later, but the chance to do it with Luton proved too enticing to wait.
“I think it’s preparation over many years,” Bloomfield said of his readiness to make his managerial debut in the second tier.
“In terms of football in general, management in general, leadership in general, is really important, I believe. To manage in any industry, in any walk of life, leadership and management kind of doesn’t change. The people element doesn’t change. It’s still humans trying to play a different sport or in a different industry. I think that’s really important to stress.
“I was really fortunate to have dinner with Gareth Southgate before Christmas. And one thing I loved, in discussion with him, is that he’s been to visit those different industries.
“And he still reiterates, it’s just humans doing a different skillset in each industry. But the human element and the leadership element doesn’t change, which was really heartening for me to hear because it’s what I believe in.”
The adage of a week’s a long time in football most definitely applies to the last few whirlwind days. A week ago, his Wycombe side had just knocked Championship Portsmouth out of the FA Cup, offering a hint at the challenges he could surmount if and when he got to the Championship. Today, he’ll take charge of a Luton side aiming not to slip out of the division.
“Of course, Championship football is different to League One football, different to League Two, football different to a finance or banking,” said Bloomfield, adding: “You have to be on the front foot and understanding of what those challenges are going to bring.
“So whilst the leadership and the management has maybe been a longer term development, the short term has been learning about our group as much as we possibly can. Learning about Preston as much as we possibly can, and making sure that we’re prepared for those two things.”
Results in football are one thing he cannot guarantee, but Bloomfield, with a managerial career that is only a few months older than two years, is keen to keep learning.
“A mutual friend that we had, that we know, put me in contact,” he added of his dinner with Southgate.
“I was really keen (on) CPD (continuing professional development), trying to learn from people who are better than you, who have managed at a higher level, so I got in contact.
“I was offered the opportunity to go and meet him, which I was really grateful to do. And I owe him dinner because he paid, which is a bit embarrassing, but, yeah, he was just an incredible man.
“He was everything I expected him to be and more. I’ve really admired the job he did for the England, football team, the leader of the FA, the way he was a real pillar, and a real sort of, figurehead for our country and our national game.
“I think he’s an incredible man, full of integrity and honesty, and he leads the way. I would like to feel I would like to lead as well. So the opportunity was too good to miss, and he gave me a couple of hours of his time. It’s probably too long. I probably bored him a little bit if I’m honest, but it was fantastic.
“He offered me the chance to ask questions and really delve into him. So there were some things that was really reassuring that I felt that that’s how what I believe in, I can continue.
“Also, other bits that he kind of shed some light on that made me go away and think a little bit more and reassess a couple of bits.
“When you’re given the chance to have a one-on-one with a man of that kind of calibre, it was too good an opportunity to miss. And I really, really appreciate his time and still do now.”
After getting the Luton job, Southgate messaged Bloomfield with the Hatters boss revealing: “He’s messaged to say ‘congratulations’ on coming here.
“In all the things that he’s doing to find that time, I think shows a real quality of of the man as well. I took loads from it. If I could follow it up again another time, it’d be great. But I know he’s busy and to have that one opportunity was just fantastic.”
Be the first to comment