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INCE scored the game-winning goal in a 2-1 victory over Cardiff City to kick off his Royals career in fine fashion. The 30-year-old is looking forward to more “great moments” while wearing the club’s colors.
Tom Ince, a midfielder for Reading, wants to continue Reading’s winning streak after the Royals picked up their first victory of the year last weekend.
“It’s great when you come off the back of a win and scoring the goal that I did, but the goal to me is a bonus,”
Ince adds “My aim is to help this team to try and win games and not so much to try and get my name back on the map but to show people that, at this level, I can be a match-winner. A lot of my teammates rely on me for that. I have to try and continue that.”
The Liverpool Academy graduate is now under his father Paul Ince’s supervision. Paul Ince temporarily filled the managerial vacancy at Reading in February before being offered the position permanently in the summer.
When the former England star signed his son on loan from Liverpool for Notts County, the two first collaborated there. After keeping an eye on the club after signing Tom, they would later be reunited at Blackpool two years later when his dad was named the Tangerines’ manager.
The player says, “It’s always been something that’s been associated with me since I was playing. People always say, ‘oh, there’s Paul Ince’s son’.”
“As I’ve got older, I’ve started to realise the talent and ability that I had in myself, and I tried to make my own name in the game. He’s helped me along the way massively and he’s always tried to push me but allowed me to follow in my own footsteps and how I play the game.
“The big thing for me is that I’m a totally different player to him – different position and a different style of player.”
After permanently relocating to Berkshire, the two are once again sharing an apartment, but Ince continues to heed his father’s wise counsel.
Fondly saying: “My dad set unbelievable high standards,” he added. “I’m proud of the name that I have on my shirt and the player that I am.
“The untold times we’ve watched games back, whether that’s him managing me or me at other Clubs. IIt’ll always be every Sunday I go to the family house and he’ll have the game on, and he’ll pause play saying, ‘what could you have done better there?’ This is recently as well, not when I was 19 or 20 – it’s still happening when I’m 28 or 29!
“That’s just the relationship we have. As much as we’re father and son, it’s ex-player and player. He’s played at the highest level and for some fantastic Clubs so to take his advice and guidance throughout my career has been great.”
Paul Ince returned to management in June after an eight-year absence at Reading, where his son had previously played while on loan from Stoke City. The three-year deal was signed in June.
Attacker Tom Ince maintained that his group’s objective is to move the Royals into the top half of the standings.
“It’s funny how these things work, for him to have been out of the game for so long,” he continued. “Then I get the call again saying, ‘I’m going to be your new manager as of tomorrow.’ I’m thinking, ‘here we go again. I can’t get away from you! ’
“It’s about trying to bring success to Reading, both for me personally and for my dad as well,” Paul Ince pressed.
