Hey everyone, welcome back to the off-season interviews. This week, I interviewed two Cobh Ramblers players, captain Jason Abbott and midfielder Dylan McGlade. First up will be my interview with Jason Abbott, followed by my interview with Dylan McGlade. Let’s Get Started!
How do you feel about re-signing for Cobh Ramblers for next season?
Jason Abbott: It’s fantastic to be signed back again this year. It’s my hometown club and it’s always an honour to represent Cobh Ramblers and the Cobh community. Iv worked with Conor and Fran previously and they are great appointments to bring the club forward. They have a great vision and know what type of character I am and what I bring to the club so I’m just looking forward to playing in front of the fans in St.Colmans Park for 2026.
You and Cobh Ramblers nearly achieved direct promotion this season. What lessons did you take from that campaign, and how do you hope to build on them next year?
Jason Abbott: Ya we had a great year and pushed hard but unfortunately came up short. Every season is different and there is a lot of turn over player wise each year, that’s the nature of League of Ireland football. Conor and Fran are putting together a great squad who will be hungry to compete and represent the club with pride. It will be another exciting year and we’re looking forward to the challenge ahead.
What on pitch challenges did you face this season, and how did you work to overcome them?
Jason Abbott: It’s a long season and there are many challenges both individually and as a team. Set backs are a natural part of sport and it’s important to focus on what you can control and that’s training and working hard every day. Having a good team and group dynamic is really important and with the values that Conor and Fran are setting, we’re building a culture that pushes each player to be their best both on and off the pitch.
As one of the most experienced players in the squad, how did you approach helping the younger midfielders develop their game?
Jason Abbott: As an experienced player, it’s important to support the younger lads not just on the pitch but off it too. How you carry yourself off the pitch and how you treat everyone within our club is just as important. There’s huge potential within the squad, and I always try to help in any way possible. In a strong team dynamic, it’s not just about mentoring the younger players but supporting everyone as a group. We all lean on each other, push each other and work towards the same goal.
What are your personal goals for next season, and what do you hope to achieve with the club?
Jason Abbott: My personal goals are always to play and represent the club to the best of my ability. It’s a great place to play and a privilege to wear the Cobh Ramblers crest each week. Iv been at the club for many years now and know how challenging the league can be. We need to make sure we get a good pre season under our belts and focus on each game as it comes and not look too far ahead but it will be another exciting year at St.Colmans Park.
How do you feel about resigning with Cobh Ramblers for next season?
Dylan McGlade: Delighted to get the deal done, there was a bit of interest from a few clubs which I was surprised about to be fair as I’m only recently home but I was after a bit of stability after bouncing around the last 2 and a half years and when I spoke with Conor about the direction that club was taking & the plans it was an easy enough decision
After two years playing football in Australia, did you notice any differences in how the game is played there compared to Ireland?
Dylan McGlade: Definitely a lot of differences. It’s a completely different game if I’m honest. I think in terms of technical ability Australia isn’t too far off but I think the big difference is professionalism & maybe a bit of football IQ. You’d be surprised but I found it to be very physical, maybe even a bit more physical than LOI but I think the refs let a lot more go, a red card in Ireland is maybe not even a booking in Australia 
How has your approach to training and match preparation evolved over the years?
Dylan McGlade: I think as I’ve got older I’ve learned to listen to my body a bit more, I used to find it hard to stay still and I’d be pushing my body to the limits every day but I’ve learned to slow down a bit, listen to the aches and pains and maybe tailor myself a bit more. I had a couple of horrendous and possibly career ending injuries at a young age and I’ve worked hard to be able to play football at a good level & I want to play for as long as possible so naturally you have to tweak your prep a bit, yoga is saving me right now!
Are there any players, past or present, whose style you’ve tried to emulate?
Dylan McGlade: When I was younger I was a midfielder initially and my favourite players were Roy Keane, Modric & Zidane so I tried to incorporate a bit of all of them into my game but as I got older I think I kinda developed my own style, I’ve seen a few comparisons over the years with Jack Grealish because of the low socks & long hair at times which is funny because we played together all the way up through the Irish underage set up
Having only joined in July, which team did you find the toughest to beat this season, and why?
Dylan McGlade: I think the 2 games in Kerry in the cup & league ended up killing us a bit this season. I know Colin well and he always has tough teams to play against & mounthawk is a tough place to go. I think their game plan worked well and they really made it difficult for us to play.
What are your goals for next season, both personally and for the team?
Dylan McGlade: I think I say it every year but my goals are always pretty much the same, try to hit double figures in goals & assists and start the majority of the games. I’m always putting pressure on myself to make sure I stand out in matches and I feel if I’m doing all that then naturally the team will do well also. For the team I think everyone could see the quality of the group last season, we were very unlucky in some games & injuries killed us at crucial times. Of course players will naturally move on etc. but I think if we are able to keep the core of the side and make a few new additions to strengthen the starting 11 I don’t see why we can’t go all the way next year. It will be tough with City in the league next season and they will naturally be the favourites but I think we’ll go toe to toe again, and again it might come down to those 4 head to head games to decide the league.
I would like to thank both Jason and Dylan for taking part in this interview, and I wish them the best of luck both with the team and personally. I would also like to give a huge thank you to everyone who read my article with Stephen Henderson. The article got nearly 1,000 views on the page, which is a big number. I’m very proud and honoured that it received so many views, and I’m delighted with how the page, LOI Talk, is growing. Without ye, it would be very dull, and we as a website wouldn’t have gotten many views. So, once again, thank you very much! See you next week for another off-season interview.