Friday 5 August 2016 10:16, UK
Ex-Arsenal goalkeeper Graham Stack says the lure of playing in front of 60,000 Kerala Blasters fans in the Indian Super League (ISL) was simply too good an opportunity to pass up.
Stack left League Two Barnet last week and penned a deal with the Sachin Tendulkar co-owned Blasters, whose average gate across last season's ISL exceeded 52,000 supporters.
"I've done some research and I've spoken to Peter Ramage on the phone because he was at Kerala last season," Stack told Sky Sports.
"He had nothing but good things to say about the place, spoke very highly of the club and its personnel, and said you get treated really well. He said Kerala have the most amazing support, with 60,000 plus turning out in Cochin for their games.
"I've been playing in front of a few thousand in League Two, and as much as I love Barnet, I haven't played in front of 60,000 since I was in Scotland with Hibernian, playing against the likes of Celtic and Rangers and playing in the 2012 Scottish Cup semi-final at Hampden Park.
"I had a wonderful time at Barnet and I have a real affection for the club. It was a rollercoaster after becoming a hero in my first season with that injury-time penalty save against Wycombe [in Barnet's last match at Underhill]. We won that game 1-0, but still got relegated a week later.
"I won the league there [to get Barnet back into the EFL], I captained the club, coached at the club and played over 100 games for Barnet - all of which was really special to me. I was sad to leave but i just felt this opportunity was too good to pass up."
Arsenal academy graduate Stack is an experienced goalkeeper who has made over 300 appearances for clubs including Millwall, Reading, Leeds and Wolves.
The 34-year-old follows Northern Ireland centurion Aaron Hughes in joining the Blasters, where he will also act as goalkeeping coach under newly-appointed Kerala boss Steve Coppell.
"Over the last five years, I've worked really hard away from the field," Stack said.
"I've done my goalkeeping licence, the youth modules and my UEFA B and A Licences and this is a great opportunity for me to coach with Steve as well as potentially play.
"I'm looking forward to coaching out there and I know I will also learn a lot from Aaron. I'd like to think between the pair of us, we can bring experience and leadership to the squad.
"It will be new for us in terms of setup, the competition and team-mates but I want to help as much as I can on-and-off the pitch and hopefully along the way deliver success."
UK-based football agent Baljit Rihal, who brokered the deal taking Stack to India, added:"I'm very pleased to have secured the deal to take Graham to the Indian Super League.
"His experience both as both a goalkeeper and a coach speaks for itself. He is very excited about the prospect of playing in India and I am sure the Kerala Blasters fans will welcome him with open arms."
