First match
The first match I remember going to was England against Portugal at the old Wembley (in April 1998). England won 3-0. Alan Shearer and Teddy Sheringham definitely scored and I think Shearer got two.
First hero
My first football hero, even though he is fairly recent, was definitely Thierry Henry. I wasn’t massively into football when I was growing up but he was amazing. I am an Arsenal fan and I just thought he was unbelievable.
I still think he is quite underrated and he should be up there with the best of all time in my opinion. But, for whatever reason, he isn’t.
First boots
My first pair of boots were these weird spiderweb-design boots that I had when I was really young. They were way too big for me, but I used to wear them all the time. I absolutely loved them and I used to wear them in the summer, even though the ground was too hard, but they were the only boots I had.
First kit
The first kit I had was an England shirt. In fact, I think it would have been the one I wore to the England v Portugal game at the old Wembley. Like I said, I was not too much of a football fan when I was growing up, but I definitely remember having that one. I mean, I loved everything about playing football, but I didn’t really watch that much of it.
First game played
My first senior game was for Aldershot in 2006 and I think it was against Eastleigh.
I don’t really remember too much about the match. It was a Hampshire Senior Cup game, but what I do remember is that I scored a hat-trick!
First goal
Well, my first goal was the first of my hat-trick in that Eastleigh game. I don’t really remember how it went in. I guess I am just going to have to tell you that it was a 45-yard worldie on the volley with my left foot which went in to the top corner. In fact, it was probably a tap-in from one yard at the back post or it probably just hit me and went in. I scored my first league goal the next season against Farsley (in February 2008).
First red card
It was back at Aldershot and we played against Exeter (in November 2008).
It is safe to say that I am not the best tackler in the world. I didn’t mean to go into the tackle badly, but I sort of went in with my studs up and cleaned the guy out (Exeter’s Steve Tully). Like I said, I didn’t mean to but it was definitely a bad tackle and definitely a red card, so that was the first time I got sent off. I wish I could sit here and say that was the first and only time I got sent off but it most certainly wasn’t the last…
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