Matt Haywood keen to lead by example again as he gets back in the game at Solway IHC
MATT HAYWOOD hopes he can play a similar leadership role to the one he enjoyed at Leeds Knights for three successful years after coming out of retirement to play for NIHL National rivals Solway.
Haywood hung up his skates after three trophy-laden seasons at Leeds under head coach Ryan Aldridge, the veteran centre helping the team lift three regular season league titles, a play-off crown and a National Cup.
Part of the reason for packing up centred around spending more time with his family back home in Glasgow, where he had previously played for 10 years in the Elite League.
And while Solway’s Dumfries base may still be a 90-minute drive away, it will enable him to remain closer to home.
The move will reunite him with former Leeds team-mate Jordan Buesa, who left West Yorkshire at the same time to head home to Scotland and join Solway.
Speaking to the in-house Solway IHC TV, Haywood, who scored 306 points in 186 league, cup and play-off games for Leeds, said: “I think that experience and knowledge is what I’m going to be able to bring into the team.
“I've probably forgotten a lot of it but I think that that's definitely one of my strengths.
“There is some good young talent there and even if they just pick one or two things up from me – even if it's just asking me questions or getting my opinion on things, I'll do my best to give them the best advice I can.
“I think that was part of my mission in Leeds from when I was speaking to Ryan (Aldridge).
“I was initially signing a one-year deal in Leeds but me and my wife and family really enjoyed the prospect of getting to know these young men.
“They were kids when they first came and hopefully after three years they blossomed into someone who didn't need somebody like me around.”