BBC Radio's Newcastle Nick Barnes (NB) spoke to former Carlisle goalkeeper, and recent Sunderland signing, Keiren Westwood (KW), on his move from Coventry to the Stadium of Light, Westwood suggesting that he has had to do things the hard way :
KW
I have done things the hard way, but it gives you that hunger and desire to achieve really. Getting let go as a young boy at Manchester City at 19 was obviously a kick in the teeth, but a kick up the bum that I needed really to kickstart my career. To be fair I had a really bad summer getting passed from pillar to post on trial here, on trial there and nothing ever working, being promised contracts and then getting them taken away.
It was one of those summers, I was close to being a policeman, signing up for the force and stuff. I was filling out forms but I got a call from a friend of mine actually, Paul Simpson saying to come up to Carlisle and I did. I have not looked back really, from that day I said to myself that to get anything in this life that I have to work hard and try to achieve it.
NB
Has that been your mantra then from now on? That discipline to basically try to achieve now?
KW
Well, of course, Manchester City were a massive club, when you are there as a kid you sort of get a bit sidetracked with the stars in your eyes really because you are training with people that you have watched grow up and you are like this, that and the other. Getting released was a big eye-opener and something I needed, and maybe if I hadn't got released I wouldn't possibly be where I am now.
NB
And when you see the likes of (John) O'Shea and (Wes) Brown and (Sebastian) Larsson, those sorts of players coming in now, does that signal to you the ambitions that are here?
KW
Well, of course, they are the same ambitions that I have got and as a player that I had when I started out in the Conference, well I started out as a 17-year old professional, first-year professional at Manchester City. So, the same ambitions as me and this club is a massive club, and to attract names like that who have won trebles and won a lot of trophies, and they are great lads as well.