Transfer deadline day might be an exciting, drama-filled affair for the average punter. But for the players, like Harry Arter, who take part, it is an anxiety-riddled time where your life is turned upside down.
Harry Arter, speaking to Off The Ball on our Deadline Day Special, said that it was probably one of his worst experiences in football.
It had such an impact on him that he decided he never wanted to go through it all again.
He was either moving to Fulham or staying with Bournemouth. He explained how his move to Cardiff City happened on deadline day last year.
“The unknown is horrible for a footballer and to be at home last year it got to around 12 o’clock and it still wasn’t decided where I was going and then literally it was a call saying, ‘get up to Cardiff,’” he told OTB’s Deadline Day Special.
His move to Fulham materialised and it means that he will be working under his brother-in-law - Scott Parker.
It’s often said that you should never do business with your family, but Harry Arter thinks there won’t be any issues.
“Scott’s very professional when it comes to his work.
That side of it definitely won’t be in his mind at all and he obviously rates me as a player and feels I can help the team so I can't see that being an issue,” he said.
Arter was just five when Parker entered his life and, as he was growing up, Parker was always someone that he looked up to.
“I’ve grown up with him and shared his successes with him. I was watching him when he was captaining England and I was playing for Woking in the Conference. He’s someone that I’ve naturally always looked up to.
“I think his mental strength throughout his career is probably one of his greatest strengths - to stay at the top for as long as he did.
It’s something that I definitely want to emulate in the latter part of my career,” he professed.
Irish hopes
From an Ireland perspective, the hurt of watching Denmark in last year’s World Cup is something Arter is using to drive him on.
Ireland are in a good position to make it to the European Championship next year and the appointment of Mick McCarthy has lifted the whole squad, Arter has said.
“It was probably what was needed to be honest.
“Purely just all the negativity surrounding the World Cup disappointment and then a few games after that we didn’t really perform well. It’s definitely had a good impact on the squad,” the 29-year-old said.
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