'My mum deserves the world' - New Barnsley signing Kacper Lopata on family, football and Southend
- Seb Sternik
- 10 June 2023
Following a number of loan moves and a legal battle with Southend United, Kacper Lopata is finally looking forward to some stability after penning a four-year deal with Barnsley.
Since 2019, Polish centre-back Kacper Lopata has gone through six clubs on both permanent and loan deals - including Sheffield United and Brighton.
Lopata's last club was National League side Woking which he joined in March 2023 following his controversial departure from Southend.
The player is now looking forward to a period of stability after signing a four-year deal with Barnsley.
When asked about the step-up from fifth-tier to League One, the 21-year-old said: "It's obviously two leagues above so the standard is going to be much better, but I think the basics of football don't change.
"You've still got to win your headers, dominate both boxes, organise. I'm quite confident in myself and when called upon, I'm sure I'll do a job."
The player is also thankful to Barnsley for being trusted with a four-year deal. He said: "That's just what you want to see from a player's perspective. A club that is clearly backing you, believes in your development and believes you're a long-term project.
"As soon as I sat down with the CEO, we talked for an hour or so. It became clear to me that this is where I want to be."
Stability is something that Lopata has lacked in recent years. His recent spell at Southend certainly proved testing as the player was forced to hand in his notice following a 'serious breach of contract'.
The breach concerned unpaid wages, which Lopata ultimately received 28 days late.
"It was tough. I never want anyone feeling sorry for me because, let's be honest, there's [other] people on the minimum wage and stuff.
"It wasn't even about us as players necessarily. Imagine being a secretary at a club and maybe they haven't been paid for two months.
"I didn't want to work for a man like that [in reference to Southend chairman Ron Martin]."
Such situations tend to keep players grounded, though Lopata admits he already had his feet firmly on the ground due to his upbringing.
He said: "That's something from my family, I always had that grounding. I've never tried to go 'big time' or anything. Just be a normal person.
"I've worked a job. When my mum moved to this country, she worked in three jobs. We didn't have a car and walked for hours everywhere. I understand there's people out there working really hard for very little. So I'd never take this for granted."
Lopata was born in Krakow but moved to Bristol at eight years old. Looking back at his early years in England, he said: "We lived in a little one-bed shared apartment in one room.
"Maybe we didn't have a lot, but our mum never let us feel it. We always felt blessed, like we had everything and weren't lacking in anything. My mum deserves the world. She worked two/three jobs, overtime, cleaning hotels, she did everything she could."
