My football career took me from a Premier League academy, and an international set up to now fighting my way through the non league system whilst balancing a degree.
Growing up in North East London – South Woodford, Redbridge, football is almost part of your identity from birth. It was almost inevitable my first word was going to be ‘ball’.
My dad being a passionate Luton fan, and my grandad a former footballer for Shamrock Rovers, if it wasn’t going to be the nature of growing up in East London which was going to trap me inside the footballing world, it was going to be my family.
By the age of 7 I had entered the academy system, signing for my local side West Ham United. After a year or two with the hammers, my dad decided to remove me from the pressures of academy level football, and took me back to Sunday league.
I re-joined the side where my career started, Aldersbrook Athletic, run by former QPR goalkeeper Peter Hucker. Years of league and cup domination lead to our side being an attractive prospect for professional scouts.
When I was 11, in my later years of primary school, I was offered a trial at my boyhood club, Luton Town. An offer not only me, but my family were in an impossible position to reject.
After a successful trial at Luton, I signed my academy contracts with the club. I guess reflecting on things, it was a massive achievement for myself and my family, but in the moment as an 11 year old boy, it was just a chance for me to play more football.
After 2 years of travelling round the M25 3 times a week to Bedfordshire, at the end of my U12 season
(Year 7), I was offered a 4 year contract taking me from, U13 – U16. I signed my deal on the Kenilworth Road pitch in front of 7,000 fans, in a stadium which holds some of my most memorable moments as a fan and as a player.
At the start of my U13’s season I was pulled into a meeting with the academy manager, and I was told they had received 4 offers from Premier Leagues clubs to sign me.
Fulham, Arsenal, Tottenham and Norwich.
For me it was a whirlwind of emotions. A moment of confusion, with a hidden sense of pride. Confusion because football wasn’t just a game I loved, football was just my happy place. I didn’t understand transfers, I didn’t understand the process of becoming a professional footballer, all I understood was the game itself.
The slight sense of pride came from the realisation that these sort of moments don’t usually occurs to boys from East London, but I was very fortunate it happened to me.
After a period of family discussions and debates, I decided to venture to East Anglia, joining the yellow and green of Norwich City.
That move took me up 5 divisions, from the Conference Premier to English football’s pinnacle – the Premier League.
Entering year 9 I made the difficult decision to leave home and take my journey to boarding school.. Wymondham College.
Changing cars for tractors, housing estates for farms, the River thames for the Norfolk Broads – similarities between London and Norfolk come at a premium, but all that was on my mind was football and doing my family proud.
Singing for Norwich gave me an opportunity to exploit my attributes against some of the countries toughest opponents, in world class facilities. These were opportunities Luton were in no position to match.
My personal life, my education and my football was going incredibly. I made my U16 debut in my first year wth the club as an U14, against Liverpool away, before making U18s debut as an U15 against Blackburn.
I remember John Ruddy once saying to me when I was in year 10, ‘I haven’t seen anyone this good at this age before’.
That was just before I first received international Recognition. The Republic Of Ireland had requested for me to play for them in a friendly against Reading before the U17 euros.
The squad was crammed with exceptional talent, the most notable individual being Declan Rice. We faced Reading on a cold, miserable Tuesday evening, winning 3-0.
I was then called up for the Euros, but due to complications with getting an Irish passport, I was unable to attend. These issues continued, which resulted in me missing 2 more camps before my dreams of representing Ireland faded.
During my U16 year I received an invitation to train with England’s U18 squad. A team with the likes of Phil Foden, Reiss Nelson, Mason Mount.. I guess you could say that was every kids footballing dream, and I was living it.
I felt blessed and exceptionally lucky to be training in one of the most mesmerising facilities in world football – St Georges Park, to be playing with some of the most talented footballers in the country and living one of my childhood fantasies.
After returning from my England camp, I continued to perform well back at NCFC. This inevitably resulted in my gaining a new 2 year contract, and signing my first professional deal with the club.
The transition from U16’s football to U18’s football is major. You move from academy football to youth team football, where winning holds importance.
In my first year in full-time football as an U17, I was listed in the Wales U19 squad to play in the European qualifiers.
It was an experience which was mind blowing.
Pulling on the welsh jersey, wearing the dragon proudly on my chest was a moment myself and my loved ones will treasure dearly.
We lost our first game 2-0 to Greece, before beating England 3-2, and then Luxembourg 6-2.
Beating England to this day was the greatest moment of my career. Seeing my whole family in the stands, seeing the eruption of the crowd when we went 3-2 up, and seeing the tears within my team mates eyes when the full time whistle went, created a memory which could never be erased.
I conceded 2 to Trent Alexander-Arnold, but we’ll speak less of that.
That win also resulted in me being named in the ‘next generation of Welsh footballers’ in an article composed by BBC Wales.
After returning from my International duties, I finished my first season in full time football where we got to the quarter finals of the FA youth cup, and had a very productive season.
In my second year was where my career took a turn for the worst.
The academy manager left and this change saw the beginning of the end of my NCFC career. I was told I didn’t ‘fit the profile of a Norwich City Goalkeeper’ a statement which till this day, I can’t quite comprehend.
As the curtain drew on my 6 years at Norwich City, it was time to look for new opportunities.
When I left, I had 4 contracts on the table from Championship clubs, but my love for football turned to hatred. I lost everything I had ever worked for.
I turned down the offers, and with the support from my incredible family came to the decision to join UEL.
The university of East London offered me the opportunity to get my degree whilst rekindling my affection towards the beautiful game.
I could play the sport like I was 11 years old again, just with a wealth of footballing experience.
I currently manage my time with UEL playing for non league side Wingate & Finchley, who participate in the 7 division of the English Pyramid.
My football career has been unique, filled with highs, sprinkled with lows.
Would I change any second of it?
No.
The bottom line is, it was a journey like no other.
