Derry City's Andre Wisdom 'grateful' to be back playing football again

Andre Wisdom is hoping he can be part of a history-making team at Derry City after joining the club until the end of the season.

The defender, who previously played with Liverpool under Roy Hodgson, Kenny Dalglish and Brendan Rogers, is rebuilding his career after he an incident in 2020, in which he was attacked and stabbed. He only returned to the game last September with National league North club Warrington Town before moving onto Salford where he has played throughout last season.

His short-term contract at Derry City could be a maximum of 12 games of the club reaches this season’s FAI cup final, and Wisdom is hoping to play his part as the Candystripes chase a league and FAI Cup double.

“That's great to be a part of, and I’m grateful for the opportunity, and hopefully we can achieve something great,” he said. “But the main focus is the next game and then the one after that. You've just got to take each game as it comes, prepare properly, and nine times out of ten, the team that works hardest will most likely win, so if we can do that, hopefully we've got a great chance.”

“Everything's happened pretty quick, obviously. I play football because I love it, and any opportunity for me is a good one.

“I know I've played at the top. I've played here, I've played there, this player, that player, this manager. But all that's nonsense to me, really. I just play, I love it when I'm on the pitch. I just can't wait to get started, get a training session in and hopefully be involved in the game, if everything goes through as quick as possible. It’s pretty simple.”

The move to the Brandywell happened very quickly, with the 31-year-old only being made aware of the opportunity on Sunday night.

“We spoke two days ago,” he revealed. “I got a call. The opportunity came, and I just love football, it's as simple as that. I want to get back into full-time football and I'm pretty straightforward, and the conversation that I had with the gaffer, it just made my mind up pretty much.

“I don't need much convincing. I'm so grateful for this opportunity, honestly. It's everything that I want. I'm only 31, I say only, there's lads who are 18 coming through and I feel like I'm a grandad. But, yeah, I'm just grateful, and who knows what happens?

“Looking back on things, I never thought I'd end up at Liverpool, then go to Austria, and go to Derby. So everything's just taking in your stride, and adapting to any situation, environment, and being open to all conversations, and we'll see what happens.”

Journey back

It has been a long road back to the game for Wisdom, but he is just as eager to get on the pitch now as he was when he was breaking through at Liverpool as a teenager back in 2010.

“I've never fallen out of love with football,” he insisted. “I think it's the only thing I know, it's the only thing I want to do, probably the only thing I enjoy as well, because I'm a moody bugger when I'm not playing football or in and around it. So, it was just getting the feel back. I played for Warrington, which was a semi-professional team, and it was part-time, and then I got my fitness back and did the pre-season, went with Salford, and did a full pre-season.

“It's more mentality, for me anyway, it's in my mind, how I deal with it. You assess; life's the most important thing, and this is a luxury. I'm grateful to be playing football. Once I knew I was able to again someday, I knew I'd give it everything I've got, and it's led me to being here at Derry.”

Wisdom is hoping to be involved for his new club at Waterford tomorrow night, and despite being involved in a new league in a new country, he feels confident in his ability to adapt.

“I think it's a case of mindset, it's taking on the information that the manager gives the team collectively, and me individually, if I get given the opportunity to play,” he explained. “Nothing's a given in football, no matter what level you're at, no matter who you've played for, so I don't expect anything, I'll work for everything that I hopefully can get the chances. It's all about mindset, I personally think. Just adapting, and I've played hundreds of football games, whether it be professional or with my mates, so hopefully I know how to do that.”