Photo – RB Media
Author – Ben Monti
Having just finished my chat with Silvio Bello, and with the sun still doing enough to fend off the rainclouds, I had the pleasure of being pointed in the direction of Harborough Town’s second summer signing, the attack-minded Sam Osborne. Or Ozzy, as I quickly discovered he prefers to be called. I still feel slightly disappointed in myself for not having put two and two together and pre-empting that nickname.
Ozzy instantly struck me as a bloke who would rather do his talking on the pitch. The straight-talking, Nottingham-born winger arrives at the Beehive, bringing with him tonnes of National League and National League North experience, having come through the ranks at Notts County before spending time at the top end of the non-league pyramid. Playing his football for much of last season on loan at Hereford, he knows exactly what is required of The Bees next season.
Most importantly, I noticed early on, Ozzy doesn’t sound like somebody who joins the club simply hoping to keep Harborough Town up. He is clearly ambitious, competitive and very excited by the path The Bees are heading on. The 27-year-old joined me for my second stroll of the evening, to discuss life in the National League North, Harborough Town’s togetherness and why he believes the club should head into next season with “a little bit about them”.
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Ben: Nice to meet you, mate. Before we get started, should we call you Sam, or is there a nickname the supporters need to know about?
Sam: Ozzy.
Ben: Ozzy, is it, Ozzy Osborne?
Sam: Sam, if I’m in trouble, but no, I only really reply to Ozzy.
Ben: Well, hopefully you won’t be in trouble here. So, Ozzy, for the fans meeting you for the first time, tell us about your football journey.
Sam: Yes, I’ve had quite a journey, to be fair. Played for a few clubs, starting off just locally in Nottingham, up the road. Came through Notts County youth team, made my debut there, and was there for five and a half to six years. Really loved it there. And then I’ve been scattered around the National League and National League North since.
Ben: You spent most of last season on loan at Hereford. How did you find your time there?
Sam: Yeah, so I signed this time last year. Absolutely loved it there. It’s an incredible club, incredible fan base. And I just started to get going.
Ben: Despite their position in the National League North table, they did manage to avoid the drop. What did you learn from that experience?
Sam: Yeah, 100%. It was a team that you play in week in, week out, wondering why you are where you are. And I think, obviously, I wasn’t there at the end of the season, but from where I was, the belief was that they’d never go down. And clearly, they didn’t.
Ben: You’ve played plenty of football at this level. What was it about Harborough that made you think, “That’s where I want to be”?
Sam: I think it’s just a club that’s obviously ambitious, which is easy to say, but as well as that… As well as that, their pathway and the journey they want to go on is in line with mine. I think that was the biggest thing to me, coming in and speaking to the chairman, gaffer, Staffy. We all want the same thing as well, so that was a big thing.
Ben: Before signing, how familiar were you with the dressing room and some of the lads already at the club?
Sam: Yeah, I’ve met a few of the lads. I know some of them are from Nottingham as well. Spoke to some of the lads last year, actually. So yeah, just excited to be here.
Ben: Are there any players you’re particularly looking forward to playing alongside?
Sam: Loads of them to be fair, I mean, I love the fact that they’ve kept the core group together. I think that’s a massive thing in this league as well, keeping that togetherness, which you can tell it’s a real family club and that’s what they’ve got. There’s loads of experience within these leagues as well, so yeah.
Ben: You’re an attack-minded player who can operate in multiple positions. Have you spoken to Mitch and the coaching staff about where they see you fitting into this Harborough side and what position you will occupy?
Sam: Right, left, 10, anywhere really. I think they’re looking to add wingers to the team. That’s what they’ve said, and that is my trade, an out-and-out winger. However, anywhere attacking, if I have a little bit of freedom, as long as I get back, I’m sure that’s what we’re looking for.
Ben: You’ve visited plenty of National League grounds over the years. What inside knowledge can you pass on to some of the lads experiencing it for the first time?
Sam: Yeah, 100%. I’ve played against a lot of these teams for years now. I know how some work. I can warn the lads about some of the changing rooms, some of the pitches. But apart from that, on the pitch, I’d like to think that I’ll bring a lot to the team, having done it for the past few years.
Ben: Having seen plenty of clubs at this level, how does Harborough compare?
Sam: A lot of it’s better. I mean, even the facilities here, they’re obviously trying to have an infrastructure around the place that’s not only growing on the pitch, but the club as a whole. I think you can see that just from coming here.
Ben: A lot of people will be talking about survival. What’s your mindset heading into the season?
Sam: I don’t think you can go into the season just saying, oh, we want to stay up, or you see what people are saying. I think you go into the season and have a little bit about you. And I think especially in this league, it can take you anywhere. I don’t think there’s a limit you should be looking at. I think you should just be going into the season and doing the best we can. And if that continues this incredible journey they’ve been on, then so be it.
Ben: Harborough’s Spanish supporters have become a big part of the club’s identity. Have you heard much about Los Bees?
Sam: Yeah, of course it is. I’ve got family in Spain, just shy of Alicante. So maybe that helps, but yeah, I’ve heard a lot about them.
Ben: Finally, what would you like to say to the Bees supporters ahead of the new season?
Sam: Yeah, just get down and support the lads. Hopefully we can just continue where the boys left off.
Ben: Nice one, brilliant. Cheers, Ozzy.
Sam: Thanks, take care, mate.
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As the interview drew to a close, up popped Harborough Town’s scoreboard operator extraordinaire and social media guru, Russell Barder, locked and loaded with his arsenal of quick-fire trivia to discover more about Sam the man behind the footballer. To find out the specifics of his Nando’s order, whether he is a cat or dog man, and much more, you can watch the video on our social media platforms or continue reading below.
Full Name: Samuel Paul Osborne
Position: Attacker
Favourite Club: Nottingham Forest
Nickname: Ozzy
Go to takeaway: Indian or Nando’s (Nando’s order: four chicken thighs, peri-peri chips, spicy rice, garlic bread & halloumi)
Job outside football: Painter & Decorator
Key attribute on the pitch: Attacking, attacking, attacking minded.
Who would play you in a movie of your life? Brad Pitt
What song is on your playlist right now? A Fred Again song
Favourite Film: The Hangover
Footballing idol: David Beckham
Favourite holiday destination: Ibiza
Cats or Dogs? Dogs (Has a golden retriever, Fred)
Best player played with: Alan Smith
Favourite sport outside football: Golf
Best footballing moment: Scoring first professional league goal.
One thing Harborough fans should know about you: Hopefully I can score some goals