I caught up with Bees "Player of the Year" earlier today and asked him a few questions.
Peter Gilham: What did it mean to you to win the Supporters "Player of the Year" Trophy?
Leon Legge: If someone had told me a year ago that I would be playing League One football regularly AND winning a Player of the Year award, I wouldn`t have believed them. It's absolutely wonderful for me knowing where I came from.
PG: Did you set yourself any targets when you first arrived here at Griffin Park?
LL: No but I knew it would be a learning curve for me such as picking up tips from others within the Club and from opposition players, and learning from the style of football we play.
PG: You`re 25 now so as a 24 year old you came into professional football quite late. Had you set your own target of League football at some point?
LL: Well, I always wanted to play in League football. I had had a number of trials at other clubs and they hadn`t worked out for me. So last year I thought, I`m 24 now, playing football and earning a part time wage outside of football, and as long as I`m happy doing that all will be well and maybe I might get noticed.
PG: So was it just luck that things worked out for you after you had been approached by Brentford?
LL: Maybe so. The club had watched me quite a few times and I must have done enough to show that I was worth taking a punt on.
PG: Having therefore moved up from part time football to being a full time pro have you noticed a step up in your own ability?
LL: Well I certainly feel a whole lot fitter than I did this time last year. My diet`s certainly a lot better also.
PG: Presumably the change in training schedules made a big difference to your fitness levels?
LL: I turned up last pre season unfit (although I`m generally someone who keeps himself fit), not expecting to be at a League club. I had chilled out for about six weeks and went on holiday with my mates and had had a few drinks. So I was always playing catch up early on which was to be expected.
PG: So presumably you will look at this close season differently to previous seasons?
LL: Most certainly. Alasdair Lane our Fitness Coach has given us all a programme to follow although he told us to chill out for the first couple of weeks after a long season. Then if we stick to the programme, which we all will as professionals, we will be in good shape for when the pre season programme starts.
PG: Do you look forward to the close season and a break from football?
LL: Initially I do but I know that after just a couple of weeks I will be desperate to play football again as I love it so much and can`t be without it.
PG: How do you relax?
LL: I enjoy spending time with my mates and my family. I play a bit of basketball and I used to play tennis and badminton at college.
PG: Have any other players you played with at Tonbridge Angels made it into the Football League?
LL: Anthony Storey and Jamie Cade were both at Middlesbrough for a time whilst keeper Lee Worgan played for Wycombe and Wimbledon.
PG: Fast forwarding to next season, what prospects do you think we have?
LL: I think it will be a good season and I think we can make it into the Play Offs. If you look at the teams in the play offs we`ve matched them all so we should have nothing to fear.
PG: Finally back to the season just gone, what were your highlights?
LL: Obviously scoring against Walsall and being the "Player of the Round". Also drawing against Leeds and beating Huddersfield 3-0 at home.
