Conor Washington has credited an ego-free environment with Northern Ireland for his rise from part-time football to international goalscorer in four years.
The Queens Park Rangers striker was playing for St Ives Town in the Southern League in 2012 while contemplating a career in the Royal Air Force. On Monday, he marked his home debut for Northern Ireland with the goal that defeated Slovenia at Windsor Park and ensured Michael O’Neill’s team had gone a record 10 games unbeaten.
Washington made his international debut against Wales only last week but is strongly tipped to be part of O’Neill’s squad at the European Championship this summer with the manager requiring support for Kyle Lafferty. The 23-year-old says that the “club feel” of the Northern Ireland group helped him to adjust to the international stage.
“It’s one of the highlights of my career,” Washington said. “It was an incredible experience, a fairytale. The reception from the fans when I came off was incredible. I felt like I could have played another 45 minutes. I have just tried to fit in with the team with how we are working for each other.
“The record of 10 games unbeaten is incredible and that’s something the lads have worked so hard to achieve. They are an unbelievable bunch of lads.
“There are absolutely no egos and the Premier League boys are so welcoming and have made it easy to fit in both with the style of play and behind the scenes with the lads. I think that is shown in performances and in everyone fighting tooth and nail for each other.”
Washington was born in Chatham, England, but qualified to play for Northern Ireland through his grandmother Pamela. He says it was only a few years ago, when combining postman duties with playing for St Ives Town, that he expected his career to veer in a different direction.
The striker said: “My gran passed away about 10 years ago and she’d already moved from Belfast by the time I was born. She had a really strong accent so that has made it easier for me to understand everyone! She’d be really proud.”
He added: “It wasn’t that long ago I was a postie and playing for St Ives. I was really enjoying it but my plan was to join the RAF and follow in the footsteps of my brother, who is in the RAF now. At that stage I thought my chance of playing professional football was gone but it’s incredible to think things can change so quickly.”
Northern Ireland were also indebted to Roy Carroll’s penalty save from the Slovenia substitute Milivoje Novakovic for the victory on Monday. The 38-year-old has endured a difficult time with Notts County this season, and lost his regular international place to Michael McGovern, but remains determined to face Poland, Ukraine and Germany in France this summer.
Carroll said: “My passion is still there to play. It doesn’t matter whether I play for Northern Ireland or Notts County, I will always try my best. It would be nice to be on the plane but once you get on that plane you want to be playing. That’s my passion and I still have the hunger to do that.
“Hopefully I’ll be in the squad and can get games in France. There is still a long way to go though. You look at poor Brunty [Chris Brunt] getting injured and missing the tournament. Every day I wake up and touch wood and hope that I don’t get injured. I feel sorry for Brunty, who is a leader on the pitch as well.”
