Richard Wood's Advertiser column ... the Rotherham United captain steps back in time to the days when he was just a first-team tea boy

It was a day packed with big names when I made the bench for the first time as a wide-eyed young pro all those years ago.

I was thinking back to it this week because we had a couple a couple of kids among our substitutes for the FA Cup third-round tie at Ipswich Town.

Hamish Douglas and Mack Warne are only 17 and 19 respectively but were needed in the dugout because injuries have left us so low on numbers.

Teenagers in the squad is something I like to see. A taste of the first-team environment is a great experience for them.

When I was a youngster at Sheffield Wednesday I was desperate to be involved with the senior set-up and the first few times it happened were unbelievable.

Like Hamish, I was 17, and just travelling with the players, being with them on the bus, felt amazing.

The first time I ever made the matchday squad was on April 12 2003. It was a Championship game — or Division One, as it was known back then — at Portsmouth and Pompey were top of the table and would go on to reach the Premier League that year.

Redknapp was their manager and they had some incredible players. Merson and Stone started for them that day, as did Tim Sherwood, Lee Bradbury and the Bulgarian, Svetoslav Todorov.

We were heading for relegation but we beat them 2-1. Michael Reddy was on loan from Sunderland and he scored in the last minute to give us a 2-1 victory.

I didn’t play but I got my first-ever win bonus. Madness! I’d only just signed my pro deal and I was buzzing to have a few extra quid in my pocket. I’d never experienced a day like it. Just jogging up and down the touchline warming up was special. All these incredible international players Portsmouth had were running around right next to me.

I’d travelled with the team a couple of times before that but hadn’t been named as a sub. When I was on the bus I made cups of tea for everyone all the time. I think I stood up all the way there and back! I just loved being around all the pros.

It was old school back then and more intimidating than it would be these days but I couldn’t get enough of it.

It made me work even harder. I threw myself into everything in training trying to prove myself; not kicking people but getting really stuck in.

My debut came two games after Portsmouth at Brighton & Hove Albion. We drew 1-1 and that result saw us relegated. I replaced Ashley Westwood in the 84th minute and I can remember standing on the line waiting to come on. There was no fear at all; a few nerves but no fear. I was nervous in a good way. My mindset was just to go out there and do my best.

Afterwards, I had to be careful in the dressing room. Inside, I was bursting with joy and pride at having made my first appearance, but all the seasoned pros were really down because of the relegation so I had to hide how I felt.

Nerves are part and parcel of being a pro. I feel them before every match but only in a way that motivates me to go out there and give my all. I’ve felt like that throughout my career.

I’ve appeared in Wembley finals but, strangely, they haven’t been the occasions when I’ve felt most nervous. Excitement and a desire to do well have been my over-riding feelings on those days.

Play-off semi-finals are when I’ve really felt nervous. You’re still a step away from that big day out and you’re just desperate to not mess things up for yourself, your teammates, your family and the fans.

I was a Wednesday player in 2005 when we beat Brentford in both legs before seeing off Hartlepool United in the final to go back up to the Champ, and I went through it again with the Millers in 2018.

We drew the first leg at Scunthorpe United 2-2 then beat Scunny 2-0 at our place where I scored to set us on our way to a 2-0 win. That took us to Wembley to face Shrewsbury Town. I seem to recall that afternoon turning out rather well ...

OUR Championship campaign has turned into a survival battle because of our recent form. We’re making too many needless mistakes.

The league is very tight, which is a positive thing for us now that we’ve slipped towards the drop zone.

Our form isn’t great but just one win can turn things, lift you up the table and give you some momentum. Sometimes, one good result is all it takes to get going again. You get an early goal and hang on or score a last-minute winner and it changes the whole mentality of the club.

What you must do is keep working as hard as possible and never let your effort levels drop. That’s what it comes down to. You’ve always got a chance then.

Because we’re not doing great, confidence is low, there’s no disputing that. But in some ways that can help to galvanise you. The lads are sticking together.

THE Ipswich match was massively disappointing. We’re saying the same thing after every game at the moment. We’re struggling.

We did all right up to a point at Portman Road but the last 20 minutes weren’t great. It kind of sums us up right now. We do okay but then fall away when there’s a setback.

I thought the penalty decision against Wes Harding that let Ipswich go 2-1 in front was a bit soft. That was the end of us and it shouldn’t be like that.

We’re in a difficult place at the moment. Confidence is low. When we went 2-1 down, there was still plenty of time to get back into the game. A 4-1 scoreline looks horrendous, and those last 20 minutes were horrendous. But up until then things had been all right.

I’m sorry to be out of the competition because I always like a cup run.

BEN Wiles is a big pal of mine and I’ve been speaking to him virtually every day since he suffered his ankle injury on Boxing Day.

I’m pleased to report that everything went well with our midfielder’s operation last week, and he’s been down to the training ground a few times. He’s not doing anything when he’s at Roundwood as it’s too soon for that, he’s just having a chat with familiar faces.

It will make him feel better getting out of the house and not being in on his own. One of the toughest aspects of being injured long term is the feeling of isolation you can get. You’re used to being part of a big, loud group of players every day and suddenly that’s all taken away from you. The sense of loneliness can be hard to cope with.

It’s good that he’s been coming in to see everyone. I’m planning to take him out for as coffee after training one day. I’ll even treat him to a slice of cake to cheer him up.

ONE player has left us and another has chosen to extend his stay at New York Stadium.

Wing-back Brooke Norton-Cuffy was recalled from his loan spell by Arsenal and headed straight off to Coventry City while our goalkeeper, Viktor Johansson, has signed a new contract.

That’s brilliant news for the club on the Viking. His form has been excellent this season and he’s been pulling off saves, left, right and centre. It’s great for him as well: it gives him a bit of security for the future, which is something he deserves.

Brooke is so good going forward that it’s easy to forget how young he is — it’s his 19th birthday today. He’s a massive talent and he’ll have a brilliant career, I have no doubt about that.

From what I’ve seen of him, there’s no reason why he can’t go on to play in the Premier League. He’s got all the attributes to be a top-level performer.

As an attacker, his potential is limitless. He is so good in possession.

Fans saw at times how well he can travel with the ball, keep hold of it and get out of tight situations.

He’s a smashing lad who fitted in really well here and I’ll be watching his progress with interest.