Money is not the key for David

Apr 4 2008 by Stuart Rayner, The Journal

Having returned to the Vipers family five seasons ago, David Longstaff has no intention of leaving again. Stuart Rayner talks to a home-grown hero aiming for play-off success this weekend

SAT inside Newcastle Arena with daughter Millie on his knee, David Longstaff looks totally at home in his surroundings. Like most Elite League clubs, the Vipers have a strong Canadian influence but more than most, this feels like a family club.

Their captain, Whitley Bay-born Longstaff, is closing in on becoming the first Great Britain international to 100 caps and unlike David Beckham, the 33-year-old is not simply seeing out his career. But after spells in Sheffield and Manchester, plus two in Switzerland, Longstaff is so happy to be home he no longer renegotiates his annual contract, simply waits to hear what he is getting.

The reward for his loyalty is a trip to the Play-Off Finals Weekend in Nottingham and having scored in the final the last time the Newcastle club won it, in 2006, Longstaff is itching for a chance to repeat the feat.

“I definitely want to finish my career here,” says the forward. “Even last summer I had the chance to go. When I was on international duty I had chances to leave but as long as the team wants me and what I’m being offered is okay, I’m happy to stay. I’ve been offered more money but it’s never really been a problem. I love going to watch my two boys play football on a weekend, then going to play the games.” When Millie pipes up he adds quickly: “And watch you at ballet.”

With Shaun Johnson retiring after this weekend, the home-grown generation Longstaff grew up with is thinning out.

Sunderland-born Jonathan Weaver will be playing for opponents Coventry Blaze in tomorrow’s semi-final, and Michael Tasker retired midway though the last campaign.

But with former team-mate Paul Ferone and current player-coach Rob Wilson co-owning the club, Longstaff revealed how relaxed his annual contract “negotiations” have become.

“It does help having mates running the club,” he admits. “We’re one of the lower-budget teams so I don’t really ask them, they just tell me what I’m getting. Last year they rang up to ask had I got any quotes.

“I asked them why and they said, ‘We’re announcing you’re re-signing today.’ I thought, ‘Oh, great, well at least you told us!’ But they’re good people to work for and the atmosphere’s really good. They’ve built the club up from scratch and it’s great to be part of. They’ve done things right off the ice so things are only going to get better and better.”

Weaver’s presence adds even greater spice to tomorrow’s already tasty 1pm semi-final. Wilson is number two in the Great Britain coaching set-up to Blaze boss Paul Thompson, while Longstaff, Johnson and enforcer Andre Payette are all ex-Coventry players.

The Vipers have a 100% record in the champions’ rink this term – something no other team can boast – although the Blaze have been equally successful on Tyneside.

“We can take a lot of confidence from the fact we can beat Coventry and as we’re playing well recently there’s no reason why we can’t,” argues Longstaff.

“Probably over the last two or three years Coventry have established themselves as our main rivals. It partly stems from the fact we play pre-season friendly games against them and you seem to get new players trying to make a name for themselves. It sets the tone for the rest of the season.

“I don’t think they’ll be too thrilled about having to play us and that’s the way we’ve got to look at it.”

The North Americans regard the play-offs as more important than the 54-game regular season and Longstaff believes they represent British ice hockey at its best.

“You never, ever lose the buzz,” comments Longstaff, a regular at the end-of-season jamboree in his Sheffield Steelers days. “The play-offs are different, even for the fans. The atmosphere seems to go up a notch, the games are a little more intense. When you’re playing three games a week it’s hard on your body. When these games come around you’ve had a full rest.

“The fans see the best of us at this time of year. Plus at finals weekend, there’s fans from every team and it adds to the atmosphere. The other teams’ fans start allying with other teams and hopefully with Coventry being the champions a lot will come over to our side. If we’ve got three quarters of the place or even half behind us, we’ll do well.”

Longstaff goes straight from the play-offs to international duty with Thompson’s GB and closing in on history. “Everyone meets on Monday night so hopefully I’ll be nursing a bit of a hangover,” he jokes.