Hibs Exclusive - Junior's all-in attitude an example to next generation

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Veteran match winner embracing role as mentor

It’s a very rare footballer who reaches a decent level without making serious sacrifices. Success takes hard graft, tough decisions and, in most cases, a little slice of good fortune.

Even in this environment of struggle and toil, an arena were basic participation requires enormous effort, Junior Hoilett’s back story stands out. His personal journey, taking paths less trodden and overcoming enormous obstacles along the way, makes him the ideal mentor to young Hibs players navigating the early stages of their own careers.

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A walking embodiment of what it takes to go all-in on a dream, Hoilett left his home town of Brampton, Ontario to cross the Atlantic at the age of just 13. Having knocked back Manchester United to sign for Blackburn Rovers, the schoolboy – who had impressed a whole host of Premier League scouts while taking part in a tournament in Wales – took the biggest leap possible for a kid from the ‘wrong’ side of Planet Football.

The former Blackburn, QPR, Cardiff, Reading, Vancouver and – for the second half of last season only – Aberdeen winger, now 34, eventually saw his bravery rewarded with a fine career. It is, he hopes, an example of what can be done, if only you want it badly enough.

“I was 13 when I left Canada to come and pursue football,” said Hoilett, laughing as he added: “Over 20 years now ago now!

“That move to Blackburn Rovers was a big jump, of course. But as a young kid when you are chasing your dreams, you take those risks – and you get those rewards.

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“As a young kid, I always dreamed of playing football at the highest level. And I worked really hard for that goal.

“I had a very good support base with my family and friends, which helped me massively during hard times. You reap your rewards if you put the work in.

“I think it shows you have to go all in. And that’s something I can pass on the young players today, of course.

“Every day counts. You’ve got to give your all in every game, every session. You are only as good as your last game – and you never know who is watching.

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“So you should be giving 110 per cent not only for yourself but for the team, for the fans. It will pay off in the long run.”

The son of parents proud of their Jamaican descent, and always a sporty kid, David ‘Junior’ Hoilett – officially named after his dad – quickly developed an appetite and aptitude for a game the Canadians still call soccer. Growing up in the 1990s, there weren’t all that many local opportunities to make real money by playing the game.

Helped to settle into life at Blackburn by mum Ingrid taking three months off to get him established, the young Hoilett struggled to adapt to just about everything in Lancashire. The football, the school. Just being away from the home and life he knew.

He is nothing if not persistent, though. Even when the UK Government denied him a work permit, forcing him to head out on loan to Germany – he had spells at SC Paderborn and FC St Pauli – in search of development, he kept his eyes on the prize.

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Given the emphasis new Hibs boss David Gray has put on adding character to his squad, as well as talent, it’s easy to see why Hoilett held so much appeal. Especially when he came so highly recommended by new goalie coach Craig Samson, who had witnessed the winger’s influence at close hand while working for Aberdeen last season.

Explaining just why the move held such appeal for him as a player, Hoilett said: “I spoke to the manager before joining the club, and I was impressed from day one. Sammy (Samson) also played a massive part in me coming here.

“We kept in touch over the summer, he was really enthusiastic about what the club were trying to do. So Hibs were appealing as a club.

“And yeah, of course, the manager also wanted me to play a part in helping the young boys. We’ve got some great young talent here, the likes of Rudi Molotnikov, who I can help to reach their full potential.

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“I enjoy bringing my knowledge to the young ones, to help them improve. I get enjoyment from working with them each day, helping them improve not only on the pitch but off the pitch.

“That’s part of my role here as a senior player, to help everyone progress. I want to see them reach their full potential.”

Hoilett knows his main role, of course, is to contribute on the pitch. He made a great start as a half-time substitute in Saturday’s 2-0 home win over St Johnstone, proving his fitness after working hard to recover from a hamstring injury suffered on World Cup duty – and showing some outstanding touches.

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“It felt good to be out there, back with the boys,” he said, adding: “To get the win plus a clean sheet was a bonus.

“We’ve been working hard over the last couple of weeks to get that result. We just needed to get that win under our belt to restore some confidence.

“You could see that every single player worked hard. People coming off their bench played their part. It was a good win.

“Of course when you’re watching from the sidelines, it’s a bit frustrating. You want to be out there with the boys.

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“Like any human being, any player, I got frustrated just watching, knowing I could be out there helping the team to play the sport I love. So, yeah, it was hard.

“But we worked hard, all the players and staff, especially over the last couple of weeks. We made small tweaks to get the result.

“It felt good to play. And we’ve got a couple of weeks before the next game, so we can take it day by day. But I feel like I’m getting fitter – and each day is a step in the right direction.

“I just love being out there. So, if I’m called on to start, of course I’m not going to say no!”

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