Houghton Looks Ahead

Jordan Houghton cannot wait for his first crack at the Sky Bet Championship.

The 27-year-old midfielder began his career at Chelsea, but after leaving the Premier League giants without making a first-team appearance, he has carved out a very admirable career in Leagues One and Two.

Last season, he played a major role in Argyle’s title-winning campaign, in the process sealing his third career promotion. The other two had been from League Two to One, but this one elevated Jordan and Argyle to the country’s second tier, and Houghton wants to show people he belongs.

He said: “I've had so many years of people showing interest but saying: ‘we don't think you can do it in the Championship’, et cetera.

“I've got something to show people now, and I’m looking forward to the season to show people what I can do.

“No-one would've said this season we could [win the league]. Two years ago, I was looking, and the club were looking, for play-offs in those two years, and we have gone past expectations. Now we're looking forward again in the Championship and hopefully we can consolidate ourselves there.

“There will be games where it is a hundred miles an hour, but I do feel there are more games now where teams are respecting the other team a bit more and they know the quality of the other players, so they'll drop off a little bit more.

“It's harder to break down teams if they're like that. I think there'll be a lot less possession for us going into the season, obviously. There are some top sides so we'll have to maybe adapt the way we play in some games, but I know the manager will know that himself and I'm sure he is putting plans in place now to practice that in pre-season.”

Houghton has recently signed a new deal with Argyle as the Greens prepare for life in the Championship, citing not only the chance to continue Argyle’s progress and play in the second tier, but also the fact that his wife and young daughter enjoy life in the South West.

Jordan is also revelling in a position of one of the dressing room leaders at the club.

“We're all happy here as a family,” said Jordan. “The last thing we wanted to do was move. It's hard enough moving to another club, but moving your family as well is really difficult. We're settled; we love it down here. We’re looking forward to another two years of living down here, exploring a bit more of Devon and Cornwall.

“I think this is probably the first place I've been where I feel one of the senior players, not necessarily on age - I’m only 27 - but in terms of my career, I'm into 300 games.

“When I came here, I was one of the older lads because it was a young squad. I've naturally been quite vocal on the pitch and now I feel like I'm a bit more vocal of it as well.

“I've come into a different role where I can help people in that way as well and use some of my experience to help some of the younger lads.”

A common theme, from manager Steven Schumacher and his players, has been that they were motivated by voices from outside the club not believing that the Pilgrims would sustain their promotion push. Inevitably, those attitudes are likely to bleed over into next season, as Argyle set their sights on surviving at that level. Houghton is hoping to maintain the belief and use the doubters as a motivating factor.

“I feel like it's going to be a season of people writing us off before we've even started, but as we see from last season, that helped us,” Jordan told Argyle TV. “I don't see why that can't be the same this season and going forward.

“It's going be difficult. We'll need the fans to be with us and I'm sure they will be. It's exciting for them as well. They're going be traveling to a lot of huge stadiums, big clubs. It's very exciting for them and very exciting for us, but I'm fully confident that we'll do a good job.

“The main thing will be to consolidate in the Championship and then build from there.”

You can watch the full interview with Jordan now on Argyle TV