The Wayne Bridge interview: Brighton helped me love football again | OneFootball

Wayne Bridge says his single season on loan at Brighton restored his love for the game. “And when I went there, I loved it again.”

Speaking to WeAreBrighton.com, the former Chelsea and Manchester City defender joined in summer 2012 and went on to play 42 games, scoring three, after a difficult loan at Sunderland.

“We had a great manager in Gus Poyet.” “He had all the players believing and we played really well that season.”

He made the PFA Championship Team of the Year and struck from 30 yards in a 5-1 win over Barnsley. He also contained Wilfried Zaha in a 3-0 derby as Brighton reached the play-offs, losing to Crystal Palace.

Asked if he wished he had stayed longer, he said: “Yeah, definitely. But Gus was leaving and I wasn’t sure how things would land.” He chose Reading amid interest from Queens Park Rangers.

“I ended up having an operation in the summer and then my body just caved in the next season.” He made 12 appearances for Reading before retiring in 2013-14.

“Because hopefully everyone at Brighton just remembers the better parts of my game rather than thinking I was terrible the next season!”

Source: WeAreBrighton.com