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Donacien: My Hardest Ever Goodbye
Monday, 13th Jan 2025 12:26

Departing Blues defender Janoi Donacien admitted that saying his farewells at Playford Road on Thursday was the hardest goodbye he’s ever had to say.

Donacien joining League Two Chesterfield, where his former Town manager Paul Cook is boss and Kieron Dyer and Gary Roberts are on the staff, was confirmed yesterday, TWTD having revealed the deal was close to being completed last Tuesday.

The 31-year-old was out of contract with the Blues at the end of last season but remained at the club recovering from the groin surgery which had curtailed his 2023/24 in November last year and then an ankle problem he suffered on international duty with St Lucia in September.

Donacien joined the Blues from Accrington Stanley for £750,000 in the summer of 2018, one of incoming boss Paul Hurst’s signings from the lower leagues.

Having been sent back to Accrington and then Fleetwood on loan by Paul Lambert, the Luton-raised defender went on to become one of the most successful of that summer’s additions along with his former Stanley teammate Kayden Jackson and was a key man in the early days of Kieran McKenna’s time at Town. In total, he made 111 starts and 24 sub appearances for the club without scoring.

On Friday, manager Kieran McKenna paid tribute to Donacien following his “emotional” goodbye the previous day and said he would always be welcome back at the club.

“I think this is the hardest goodbye I’ve ever had to say,” Donacien told TownTV. “I don’t really want to say goodbye, I always try to say, ‘see you later’ because ‘goodbye’ means you’re probably never going to see someone again, so I’ve just tried to keep it nice and hopefully I do see most of the people again.”

Reflecting on his six-and-a-half years at the club, during which time the Blues have been relegated and stagnated in League One before the rise to the Premier League under Kieran McKenna, Donacien reflected: “High points, extreme high points, signing, extreme low points and then just extreme highs again, just riding the wave of football.

“I’ve seen pretty much everything that’s happened here. On the inside and from outside because obviously I left to go on loan. I’ve seen pretty much everything.”

McKenna’s appointment in December 2021 marked the point when Town’s fortunes changed with Donacien one of the first names on the teamsheet in the Northern Irishman’s first season and a half at the club, injury having limited his involvement in the Championship promotion campaign.

“The change, it’s hard to put in words because as soon as he came in, everything just started moving in a completely different direction,” the defender recalled.

“The club, fans, everyone and that’s just the way that he came in and the way he was with everyone from day one and then you can see what happened now.

“I’m proud to say I was a part of it. Proud to say I was here with the boys in all the celebrations. I’ll look back fondly on those memories.

“When I think back on my time here, I think there’s a video at the end of the season, not even the games, the end of the season on the pitch with my son and my family and stuff, it’s the vibe that I felt here.”

As well as his teammates and the coaches, Donacien forged strong bonds with the club’s off-field staff during his time at the club and he thanked them as well as the supporters.

“There’s a lot of people I call family here,” he said. “Shelly, who has been here a long time, it’s sad to see her go today, she was holding back a bit.

“I’m a people person, so I’ve spent a lot of time with everyone around here. Some very, very special people here that have helped me a lot, on the pitch and off the pitch as well. I just want to say thank you to everyone.

“To the supporters as well, I say thank you to everyone that has stood outside the coaches. There’s a good group of people who were continuously there with us throughout the hard times and the good times and I hope there are plenty more good times to come.”


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ITFC_LOU added 12:31 - Jan 13
Hopefully the club do a departing interview with him, like we did with Jackson, this guy really has been through everything with us, I hope he gets the send off he deserves.
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GatesPerm added 12:35 - Jan 13
The best of luck to a true professional, thanks for being part of the Town journey over the past few years.

I can see Janoi going down the coaching route at some point, so maybe it’s just ‘au revoir’.
19

TomGarneys added 12:36 - Jan 13
Top man!
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LegendofthePhoenix added 12:53 - Jan 13
JD, thank you for being a part of what happened at ITFC. On pitch, you proved that you can play a really key part in promotion to the Premier League, your solidity and the understanding you formed on that right side with Wes was superb. Off field, you've shown so may players that you should never give up, and that if you can ride out the tough times, there can be better times than you would have imagined possible. And throughout, you conducted yourself with dignity and humility. A great example to all players and fans.
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poet added 12:58 - Jan 13
If all footballers showed the sort of professionalism, courtesy and humanity as this guy does, the reputation of footballers would go way up the league table for professional sportsman and women.
He’s a breath of fresh air.
26

planetblue_2011 added 13:04 - Jan 13
What a lovely bloke & a good footballer, shame he had his injury issues.
Glad he’s found another club & good to team up with Cookie & a few others from towns staff.
Wish you good luck Janoi for the future.
14

Blue56 added 13:11 - Jan 13
Great processional, Paul Hurst, probably the worst manager we have ever had, supporting Town for 50 plus years, so much better with Kieran?
2

Gforce added 13:14 - Jan 13
Best of luck for the future, Janoi, thanks for the memories.
Good luck at Chesterfield,hope you get another promotion on your CV.
11

flykickingbybgunn added 13:19 - Jan 13
Has a good reputation as a man and a footballer.
Farewell Janoi and good luck.
Chesterfield are a fine club.
10

Edmundo added 13:32 - Jan 13
He'll get back on track at Chesterfield, but there's a top half L1/Championship defender still in there. Good luck JD.
9

Ebantiass added 13:37 - Jan 13
All the very best for the future and thank you for great service Janoi
8

Swailsey added 13:43 - Jan 13
Love you Janoi!
2

ArnieM added 14:06 - Jan 13
Very best of luck Janoi, you’re such a top professional. Chesterfield are getting one helluva player.
9

IpswichToon added 15:53 - Jan 13
So much better than L2. Chesterfield have done well there! Good luck JD!
3

terryf added 16:46 - Jan 13
Gosh Janoi you have been through so much with Town. From the misery of being shipped out by Lambert, probably the only person who never recognised your strengths as a defender, to the dizzy heights of being an important part of the journey with Kieran.

Good luck on your next chapter and hopefully in times to come we'll see you out on the pitch waving to the supporters and feeling the love!
3

therein61 added 17:38 - Jan 13
Wishing you all the very best for the future Janoi you are a gentleman and a fine player who served us extremely well you were always positive on and off the park and never threw your toys out of the pram if not selected you were a brilliant addition to this club and will be missed good luck at Chesterfield.
4

churchmans added 18:03 - Jan 13
So good for us in his time here! Another great player to be part of our history and guest appearences in podcasts,shows and other itfc&non itfc media!
So good
1

slobfeatures added 18:25 - Jan 13
If you remember we signed some “championship” players when we were in league 1 which lifted our team above most of the others. Maybe Janoi will be the “championship “ player to lift Chesterfield.
A solis solid defender.
1

Porksmith99 added 19:01 - Jan 13
Lazy journalists might describe JD as a journeyman but we will always remember him as so much more. Good luck Janoi, you occupy a place in our hearts and we'll always remember your time at Ipswich with a smile - sorry about the Lambert era
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OldFart71 added 13:11 - Jan 14
What stands out about J D going is what a fantastic club we have now. From the depths of despair to the pinnacle of the Premier League and whatever happens this season we know that we are in safe hands and as long as those that come to the club conduct themselves in the same manner as J D we can look forward to a happy and secure future of ITFC. Thank you J D you go with all our best wishes.
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