First team you supported as a boy?
I never supported a team growing up! I actually hated watching football because it just made me want to play. I was always outside with a ball in my hand playing myself, and was never one for watching it on TV. I did like watching players, like Thierry Henry, the Brazilian Ronaldo, Ian Wright and Ronaldinho. I was more of a player supporter than a team supporter. I used to go and watch clips of players and would try to learn as much as I could.
First game you watched live as a supporter?
The first game I watched live was West Brom v Manchester United. My manager at Tooting & Mitcham United was a West Brom fan, and he took me along to the game at the Hawthorns. Manchester United won, and it was the time of CR7 (Cristiano Ronaldo) and that type of team, so it was a really good experience.
First team you played for as a boy?
I played for Tooting & Mitcham United first, and for a team called Providence House for a bit as well, but apart from that I just played for school teams.
First position you played in as a boy?
I was always a winger, on the right or left, but I also occasionally played up front. I’ve played in plenty of positions throughout my career!
First football hero?
Ian Wright. He played for Tooting & Mitcham, he grew up in south London, and for everything he achieved coming into football at a late age, he became my idol.
He was a real trailblazer, and one of the first English footballers to really showcase his personality. He played for England and I play for Jamaica, but I did get four call-ups for England. Our pathways are very similar. I know him and he is a great guy, and anytime I need advice I can drop him a message or a call and he always replies.
First football kit you wore?
The first kit I ever had was a Barcelona one. My brother bought it for me because I didn’t support a specific team, so he just picked it up when he was away [on holiday]. It was a market kit and had Ronaldinho with the number ten on the back. I was absolutely buzzing.
First mentor in football?
I would have to say that my older brother John was my first mentor, because without me actually knowing he was my mentor growing up, he stopped me doing a lot of things, kept me out of trouble and was always giving me a lot of advice way ahead of his time. He is only two years older than me but stopped me from joining gangs and gave me advice on why I shouldn’t be doing stuff like that. There was also a time where I almost gave up on football and just wanted to work, and he stopped me from doing that as well.
First professional goal you scored?
I think my first goal as a professional was with Southampton against Bristol Rovers in the FA Cup. I scored on my second international appearance for Jamacia. It was against El Salvador, and was a little dink over the goalkeeper.
