From the sideline

Fo r T h e Bes t V iew I n T h e St a d iu m I t Ha s To Be

The Race For The Golden Boot Heats Up Life After Football

An Ex Player Story Deadly at 34

Jermain Defoe

Aaron Williams:

Life In The Valleys

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SECTION NAME The race for the Premier League Golden Boot is set to be the most competitive in 20 years with a record number of players on course to score more than 20 goals this season.

After 28 matches Everton’s Romelu Lukaku and Spurs’s Harry Kane lead the way on 19 with Arsenal’s Alexis Sancez in 2nd on 17. With the likes off Ibrahimovic, Dele Alli and Dieago Costa closing the gap.” - Page 11

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CO N T E N T S FROMTHESIDELINE 4 Aaron Williams: Life In The Valleys

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Aaron Williams moved to Newport County from Peterborough United in January 2017. FTS caught up with the 22 year old from Wallsal to talk about the Valleys, room mates and goals.

6 Steve Palmer: Life As A Manager Matty Stevens is a promising young striker and held highly by Peterborough United. At the tender age of 18 Stevens has been sent out to Republic Of Ireland outfits Sligo Rovers.W

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8 Jermaine Defoe: Deadly at 34 Jeramin Defoe has been scoring goals ever since his debut for West Ham back in 2000, ever since then he has been a constant goal threat for every club he has been at now 34 and at Sunderland Defoe dosnt seem to be slowing down any time soon.

10 HurriKANE Harry Hits The Prem Harry Kane has now hit 19+ goals in his last 2 seasons sinc breaking onto the big stage 3 years ago. At 23 Kane certainly is the future of Spurs and England. we take a look at his rapid rise and more. »» p.8

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14 Golden Boot Race Heats Up The race for this seasons golden boot has started to heat up, with 3 hatricks scored in 4 weeks between the top 5 and over 28 goals between them. We take a look at the contenders.

16 Danny Racchi: Life As A Free Agent Footballer players these days are offered a new contract every 6 months in some extreme xases but what happens to those that arn’t offered a new contract Danny Racchi talks to FTS about what its like.

18 Ben Tollit: We’re Dreaming Of FL Tranmere Rovers Loanee Ben Toillit sat down with FTS to talk abou the season so far, what its like travling half way across the country to play football and what the ultimate dream is.

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AARON WI LLIAMS: L I F E I N T H E VA L L E Y S Aaron Willams has been tipped for suucses at his previous clubs.

Peterborough who have a habbit of bringing Non-League talent through and taking the to the next level, and that was no acception for Williams signed from Nuneton 2 years ago.

Williams has gone on to play a handful of games for the Posh, he was then loaned out back to Nuneton. Before being sold this January to League 2 side Newport County, under magament by the man that brought him to Peterborugh, Graham Westly.

Wiliams has been likend to another Non-League striker since coming to the Football League and he goes by the name of Jamie Vardy.

Williams is currently on the same pathe as Vardy who joined Football League

side Fleetwood town way back in 2012 and has since go on to play in and win the Premier League, he has also become an England regular as well.

Williams however is 22 and still got a bit of learning to do before he can be considered a top striker in the league he currently plays for.

However when the training is done i suspect their will be a few clubs higher up in the football pyrmid that will be itching to sign the man from England.

Aaron Williams sat down with FTS to talk about his carrer so far and what his goals are after joing Newport in January this year, how he would feel coming up against freinds an who was the better room mate a former team mate or his fiance.

Firstly welcome Aaron thank you for taking the time to sit with us. So how have you settled in at Newport County?

No problem, I’ve settled in really well here the lads and staff were fantastic welcoming me to the club and i feel like i’ve been here my whole career.

Have you noticed any diffrences between life in England and life in Wales?

Yeah you would think there would be some differences but there is nothing really apart from the accent! They talk a lot quicker in Wales!

Have the lads here made you feel welcome?

The team itself. Like I said he lads were fantastic welcoming me so makes it easier to fit into the team and play well .

term goals just wanted to get games so i could gain a little fitness and score goals to help the team push up the table.

Continuing about goals what is your goal for the club and what do you want to achive their?

It would be nice to keep them in the football league, and i think myself contributing to the goals it will help but its a team effort the end of the day and the lads here are a good bunch. So i think we have the ability to stay up in the League. If we go down we go down, but we will come back stronger as a team and we will stay i the Football League.

You signed from Peterborough in January and have been at a couple offer clubs do you keep an eye out on their results and how they’re doing?

When you were at Peterborough you were sharing a flat with Calum Chettle, are you bunking with another tesm mate at Newport?

Yeah, I made so good friends at my previous clubs, me and Chettle were both at Nuneaton before moving to Posh together so we’re good friends so I like to know if they are doing well.

I'm not im affraid im leaving with my fiancée so it's better then living with Chets haha.

Speaking about previous clubs you could come up aginst some how would you feel walking out opposite friends?

You moved to Newport in January have you set yourself any short term goals till the end of the season?

At the end of the day the team I play for come first and if I come up against a previous club I will always buy 100% in to make sure we win! and all friendships go out the window the minuet i

I didn't really set myself any short

walk out that tunnel.

You were signed by Graham Westly for the 2nd time in your career was he a massive part in you joining Newport?

Yes he was a massive figure I have worked with him before, when he signed me for Peterborough. So I know what he is about and he is one of the best managers I've played for!

Did you have to sing ater you signed for the club this time round?

Nope didn't have to sing this time so I haven't ruined another song which is good for the boys and coaches eardrums.

In the past you’ve been compared to Jamie Vardy and newspapers still belive that to be true does that put pressure on you as a player being compaered to an International and Premiership winner?

No, i think its a massive compliment to my playing style, to be compared to a pplayer whos gone from Non-League football to the Preimer League in just under 5 years is incredible. You know im only 22 so i have at least 7 years to make it into the Premier League and i beilve in my abillity that i can one day.

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Moore at Telford. Both great leaders and fantastic attitudes towards their football. Best player played against was Mike Marsh. I could never get near him, he was 2 or 3 steps ahead of most people on the pitch.

W h a t ’s h a r d e r b e i n g a manager or a player and why?

Being a manager is infinitely more difficult than being a player. As a player all you ever worried about was yourself. As a manager you have to get players to away games to training and have to organise everything for them. It’s a nightmare at times. Players have no idea how much grief they can cause you ha ha.

last season and pre season was not good. We weren’t able to attract any of the players we targeted as they had better offers elsewhere.

We are still building now. Things have improved slowly but I want to do better and more importantly the players want to improve as well.

You played Tuesday night against Shawbury United, winning 5-1, it was a great performance by the team, do you think that could be the result to help push up the league?

You’re currently 15th in the league, where do you think you can end up come the end of the season?

Yes Tuesday was a good result but we are now in a position where we have won 5 out of our last 6 games. Long may that continue obviously but we know where we are with regards to this league and if we aren’t prepared to keep working hard then that run will come to an end very quickly.

I am quite happy to be 15th in the league right now after a poor start. We struggled back end of

Do you think after Tuesday’s win if you can make Castlecroft into a Fortress then the results will start coming in?

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Castlecroft is our home and we always target it as trying to make it our fortress. We have had some poor results at home and that is something to improve on though.

You always get a good turn out from fans, are they key to boosting player moral and how did you find it as a player when fans are cheering you on?

We get a few people come and watch us and they really enjoy watching us play. The players realise that people come along and pay their money so in turn have a duty of care to make sure at very least they are trying as hard as they possibly can.

And finally if you hadn’t of got into football what would you be doing?

I really have no idea what I would have done without football. It has been all I have done from when I went to watch my dad play up til now.

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LIFE AS A MANAGER STEVE PALMER AFC WULFRUNIANS MANAGER TALKS TO FTS Steve Palmer is an Ex Semi pro footballer who had played for the likes of Telford United, Hednesford and Hucknall amongst others, a huge Wolves fan growing up the 42 year old has taken a step closer to Wolves and is now manager at AFC Wulfrunians a club based in wolves in the 8th tier of football. FTS went a sat down with Palmer to discus his hay days, Wolves and Wulfrunians.

Firstly thank you for sitting down with FTS to answer a few questions, I guess I’ll jump straight into it, what’s it like being the manager of AFC Wulfrunians?

No worries. Being manager of AFC is extremely hard work and pretty much every day there are things to deal with.

The committee is great to work with and leave me to get on with whatever I want. I do enjoy it but believe me nothing compares to playing.

When you’re a manager do you start to understand where your previous managers were coming from when you were a player?

I was fortunate to work with a lot of good managers. The biggest thing as a manager is being honest with players I believe. I had managers who would not back up their words and that just leads to problems. I had managers be honest with me and I would not always agree with that but you do always respect them.

Speaking of your playing days you played for Telford, Hednesford and Hucknall, to name a few do you ever keep an eye out for their results?

Yes with Twitter nowadays it is easy to follow what goes on at former clubs. I had 8 years as a player at

Telford so their result is pretty much the first I look for after our game on a Saturday. I’m a bit of a statto so as a rule I will catch up with the majority of non league results over a weekend.

Continuing the whole player theme where was the best ground you played at?

I was fortunate enough to play in the FA Trophy final for Hucknall at villa park. The atmosphere was brilliant so I would always say Villa Park. Wembley was being rebuilt at that time. As good as Villa Park was its a regret to have not played at Wembley though.

Who was the best player you played with and played against and why?

Best player I played with? Toss up between Jim Bentley and Neil

Wh a t ’s t h e t ra n s i t i o n l i k e from player to manager?

The transition from player to manager was fairly easy really. When you are an experienced player in the dressing room you have responsibilities so moving on to being manager is the natural progression.

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JERMAIN DEFOE: DEADLY AT 34

Jermain Defoe has been scoring goals ever since his debut for West Ham back in 2000, as a fresh faced 17 year old, ever since then he has been a constant goal threat for every club he has been at from Engalnd to America and back. Now 34 and at Sunderland Defoe dosnt seem to be slowing down any time soon. Scoring 15 of Sunderland’s 26 goals. Which has found himself with an England call up his first in 3 years.

You can be a 40-yearold man and have the body of 30.

Jermain is really fit. He is still very fast. He is intuitive.

In his movements, in his shots, he’s a child… he doesn’t look 30-something.”

- Jose Mourinho Manchest United Manager

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SECTION NAME The year is 2000 and a fresh faced 16 year old Jermain Defoe has just returned to parent club West Ham United from Bournmouth, where He scored 18 goals in 29 league appearances for Bournemouth. West Ham manager Harry Redknapp tipped him for stardom, saying, “He’s done great.

I sent him out to Bournemouth to get some experience playing league football and he’s coped marvellously.

To score 10 goals in 10 games is a terrific achievement. He’s a bright lad who’s full of confidence. Nothing knocks him, he’s a typical goal-scorer.

If he misses, he’ll be there the next time looking for a goal. He’s a kid with a big future.”

Defoe finished as West Ham’s top scorer in the 2001–02 season despite being used primarily as a substitute by manager Glenn Roeder, scoring 14 goals in 39 league and cup appearances, including the only goal in a 1–0 away win against Manchester United in December 2001, as West Ham finished seventh in the Premier League.

Fast foward 17 years later and Jermain Defoe holds several records at several clubs including became ing the 20th player to score a century of Premier League goals, and is currently the 7th highest goalscorer in Premier League history.

He became the fifth highest goalscorer in Tottenham’s history in September 2013, and the club’s highest goalscorer in European competitions in November 2013.

Defoe also holds the Premier League record for the most goals scored as a substitute, with 22, as of 11 January 2014. On 19 November 2016, Defoe scored his 150th Premier League goal, becoming the joint tenth highest goal scorer in Premier League history

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On 16 January 2015, Defoe joined Premier League club Sunderland after agreeing to a three-and-a-halfyear deal, as part of a player exchange deal sending Jozy Altidore to Toronto FC, after completing only 11 months of his four-year deal with TFC. He made his Sunderland debut the following day against Tottenham, his former club. Defoe started the match but was goalless when he was substituted after 75 minutes, ending his record of scoring on his first appearance for every club he has played for.

Defoe however did score his first Sunderland goal on his home debut in a 2–0 victory over Burnley on 31 January 2015.

Defoe debuted for the senior England team in a 1–0 defeat to Sweden in March 2004, coming on as an early substitute for the injured Darius Vassell.

England manager Sven-Göran Eriksson singled out Defoe’s display for praise in an otherwise poor performance by England, saying, “Jermain Defoe did very well – I liked what I saw. He showed that he can do very well even in international football and that he is technically very good. Jermain is quick and he knows where the goal is.”

In 2017 After over three years away from international football, Defoe was recalled to the England squad in March 2017 by manager Gareth Southgate for a friendly match against Germany and a 2018 World Cup qualifying match against Lithuania.[153] On 26 March, Defoe returned to the first team, against Lituania. Ahead of captain, Joe Hart, Defoe led the team onto the pitch with terminally ill child, Bradley Lowery.

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Per whoscored, he now completes only 20 passes and 1.1 dribbles per game, a remarkable drop from his career average 25 passes and 1.4 dribbles. Regardless, Kane has assisted 5 times this season, which is enough to surpass his career-best four assists in his maiden year.

Harry Kane has become a more ruthless striker because he is bailed from having to play too far away from the goal – which contributed to his lengthy drying spell in his early career.

Most of the time, the striker went missing because of the manager’s instruction to drop deep.

At times, he was sandwiched between the defenders with no possible support.

The striker has benefited from the arrival of his partner-incrime, Dele Alli. The 21-year-old

midfielder has thrived as a shadow striker, offering himself as an additional goalscoring outlet with his compatriot.

Alli’s ability to time the run perfectly makes him a reliable option inside the penalty area. The PFA Young Player of the Year candidate has scored 16 times in the league so far, the most among the midfielders. His presence splits up defenders, and creates space for Kane.

Mauricio Pochettino’s experiment of freeing Alli from playmaking responsibility has paid off. Spurs’ diverse attacking play has benefited from having an additional option to pick out the pass. In addition, Alli’s tendency to penetrate the final third releases Kane from having to vacate the central area to feed the ball to his teammates.

Tottenham has scored 68 times in

the Premier League this season, just one short of an attacking-atwill Liverpool team. Football is fun at White Hart Lane, thanks to the dynamic duo of Kane-Alli and the magic of Christian Eriksen.

Romelu Lukaku has made the most of Kane’s absence in the race for the Golden Boot, scoring six goals in the process. However, Harry Kane, who has finished the past two seasons second in the top scorer table, won’t give up without a fight.

That “one season wonder” thing never quite caught on did it?

Harry Kane very quickly proved that his haul of 21 goals for Tottenham Hotspur in the 2014/15 season wasn’t just a flash in the pan, and he’s since followed that up with two more campaigns in which he’s scored over 20 times.

Kane’s ruthlessness in front of goal has inspired his side towards a fairly unlikely title challenge, and it has also drawn him level with one of the very best forwards around in terms of Premier League goals.

Because remarkably, Kane’s haul for Tottenham is now exactly the same in terms of appearances and goals than the tally Luis Suarez amassed at Liverpool during his spell at Anfield between 2011 and 2014. EXACTLY the same.

Harry Kane joined Alan Shearer, Ruud van Nistelrooy and Thierry Henry in a very exclusive club of players to score 20 Premier League goals in three successive seasons.

Harry is the man who has the best chance of beating Shearer’s all-

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HURRIKANE HARRY HOW HARRY KANE HAS BECOME A HANDFUL FOR DEFENDERS Harry Kane is in the form of his life thanks to a change in his style of play.

The 23-year-old Tottenham Hotspur striker has scored 15 times in the past 14 games in all competitions, including two hat-tricks. His return of 25 goals after 31 appearances is Kane’s best goal ratio since breaking into the first team.

Kane made his senior debut for Tottenham on 25 August 2011 in a UEFA Europa League match against Hearts. Before establishing himself in Tottenham’s first team.

Kane spent time on loan in League One playing for Leyton Orient, in the Championship playing for Millwall and Leicester City and in the Premier League for Norwich City. He became a regular starter and goalscorer for Tottenham in the 2014–15 season, winning the Premier League Player of the Month award twice, for January and February 2015. With 31 goals

across the campaign, 21 of which were in the league, he was also named the PFA Young Player of the Year. Kane finished top scorer of the 2015–16 Premier League season with 25 goals, and aided Tottenham in qualifying for the UEFA Champions League.

Not surprisingly, Kane’s return of 0.90 goals per 90 minutes leaves him the most efficient striker in the Premier League, per Squawka. His drastic change in the style of play contributes to his high form he is enjoying.

When Harry Kane broke into the Tottenham first team, he was asked to play much wider, offering himself in link-up play situations to create chances. His incredible finishing skill attributes to his impressive goalscoring record.

Whether the ball is in the tight angle or outside of the box, Kane always somehow finds the bottom corner. His goals against Chelsea,

Arsenal, and Germany are Kane’s best showcases of his ability to score goals from anywhere.

This season, Kane is still scoring at will. But his strike against Everton was his first from outside of the box in an open-play situation. Of 25 goals he has scored in all competition this season, 23 of them (92 percent) were taken with the first touch.

In Kane’s first full season with Spurs, he netted 31 times. Sixteen of them (52 percent) were taken with his first touch. Seventeen of his 27 goals (63 percent) of his goal in the sophomore season were converted within a single touch.

In addition, he scored three times from outside of the box in each of the first two seasons, highlighted by that strike against Arsenal. In exchange for his scoring, his link ups with other players and creating of chances for himself becomes virtually redundant.

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That “one season wonder” thing never quite caught on did it?

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time record of 260 goals. It will be tough but he is young enough and at the right club to succeed — and if he breaks his August hoodoo then he will score even more!

Tottenham have already surpassed the 70 points they won last season.

They are getting better every year and there is no reason why Kane cannot become a Premier League title winner like Shearer, Van Nistelrooy and Henry.

Kane who is 2nd in the top goalscorer table won the award last season but is currently trailing Everton striker Lukaku by four goals.

Kane scored his 20th of the campaign against Bournemouth on Saturday, and with Spurs still chasing Chelsea for the title, he is refusing to give up on the race to become the Premier League’s top scorer.

Asked if he was now keeping an eye on his big rival, Kane said: “It’s hard not to! As a striker you want to be top scorer in the league, no doubt about it.

“I left a couple out there I probably should have scored, Lukaku has been doing well and it’s a good competition but the main thing is we’re winning games.

So its no wonder Kane has been ever present in the Spurs and England, he has been a 20+ goals a season striker and has broken lots of records.

Kane will look to go on and beat a lot more records and hopefully one day lead Englnd to a much over due World Cup.

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THE RACE

FOR THE GOLDEN BOOT T

he Golden boot has always been a prestiages award within the top tier of english football, It is also an award that can take you from a £5million player to a £35 Million player. Teams from the league often splash the cash to hopefully bring in a player to be their 20+ goal a season striker and to add value to that player. This year it has been thrown wide open with Everton’s Romelu Lukaku leading the way with 24 goals followed by Tottenham Hotspurs striker Harry Kane, which has seen him join the ranks of Thiery Henry, Garry Linkiker and Alan Sherer in scoring 20+ goals in 3 consective seasons. Spurs’s rivals bost the closets contest to the top 2 with winger Alexis Sanchez on 19 goals.

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omelu Lukaku leads the pack with 24 goals scored this season. The in form Everton man has broken records for Everton becoming the first player since 1992 to score over 20 goals in a single season (Garry Liniker 26 goals 91/92 seaosn), became the first player in Everton history to score a goal in 9 consecutive home games and became Everton’s all time leading goal scorer in the Premier League with 64 goals (Duncan Fergurson 60 Goals). FTS Final Tally: 32 Goals

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ith only a few games left time is running out for players to put in a shift and to hopefully push for that top spot.

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rom the sideline has analyesd the top 8 players and their chances off winning the golden boot and where our board of pundits think they will end up with.

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arry Kane is a name fast becoming known worldwide. After breaking into the Spurs team 3 years ago he has been nothing but consistant in the following 3 seasons, always fininshing with over 20 goals. Kane however has been out injured twice this season which has seen him miss a good 3 months, and has still managed to find himself 2nd on 20 goals. Kane who 3 months ago was only on 9 goals has scored 4 hatricks in that time and has shown no signs of slwing down. FTS Final Tally: 30 Goals.

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iego Costa, has’nt really seen his finest form this season alought being in a very strong Chelsea team who are 1st in the league the Spanish striker is yet to hit his tru form. Only on 17 goals Costa always seems to score when his team is in need of a goal. With the abillity he bostes, Chelsea fans are hoping he starts to score the goals in their final games, which are sure to all be big games. FTS Final Tally 22 Goals

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lexis Sanchez has had his ups and downs this season just like Arsenal. proberly the only positive out of a team sitting joint 5th in the league.

Sanchez has netted 19 goals this season his last coming 5 weeks ago and the later in Monday nights victory over strugglers Midlesborough. with 2 games in ergio Aguero, is also on 17 hand we’re sure he will start to goals for the season and pick up were he left on fininsh- has been hit with both injury and ing the season on 25 goals been dropped multipule times this season. City find themselves 3rd in the league and in fine form too. With the addition of Gabriel Jesus, Aguero hasnt really found time to play but yet remains on 17 goals. FTS Final Tally: 20 Goals

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latan Ibrahimovic has proven to be a goal machine in any league he has played in from the dutch Eirdivision to the french Ligue 1and everywhere in between.

With 17 goals this season. FTS Final Tally: 28 Goals

ele Alli, has been by far one of Englands greatest talents since coming to the Premier League on 16 goals Alli is the League leading top goalscoring midfielder and is only 21.

Alli has been the player spurs can always rely on if in trouble and the link play he has with Kane is why Spurs are 2nd in the League.

With a few crucial games left we’re sure he can help his team win and finsh the season on 21 Goals.

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den Harazrd, yet another player in the Chelsea team to not hit his true untouchable form. Alought like Costa in a team that sit top of the perch it is very much a team effort. With only 14 goals, and showing signs of creativity we think he will end the season on 19 goals.

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L I FE AS A F R E E AG ENT DANNY RACCHI TELLS FTS WHAT ITS LIKE SITTING ON THE SIDES Danny Racchi is currently a free agent after leaving Torquay United in the Summer in his spare time when he’s not keeping himself fit and keeping his skills sharp. Danny decided to sit down and talk to FTS to tell us what life like as a free agent entails. We talk Gary Cahill, Celtic Park and much more.

Hi Danny thanks for sitting down with FTS. I guess I have to start with. How did you keep yourself fit when you’re a free agent? Talk us through a day of a free agent? How do you hear from clubs? Etc? You just have to be disciplined with your fitness and try and self motivate unfortunately I got injured in June so the worst thing has been trying to overcome the injury when you haven’t got the luxury of working with a Physio or knowing exactly what to do with your rehab whilst not earning any money it’s been quite difficult and a few times I over did it and made my injury worse. Its been a strange one as in the summer when I was fit and I had left Torquay I had done well and pretty much turned the season around at Torquay and I had some interest nearly every other day during the summer I’d be speaking with an agent a scout or manager on a potential new club. But when I got injured the conversations

take a bit of a different turn I had a few options to go back into league football on trial and I’ve always been a player that wants to play at the highest standard I can so that’s the avenue I’d decided to go down. But when I got injured it’s very hard to speak to clubs saying your injured cos there was no way I could trial with the clubs so there in lies the biggest problem so I pushed the injury and made it worse. The conversations recently have been slightly different as I’m back fit now but obviously it’s a difficult time of the season a lot of the clubs budgets are taken up teams may have a lot of players in my position and other positions

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are priority but I’m quite close with signing for a club and having a new challenge so hopefully soon that will be all sorted.

You’ve played for a few clubs over the years do you ever keep an eye out for any of their results?

Yeah I always keep an eye for my old clubs results Being a player do you think it helps when the fans are behind you chanting your name?

It’s always better when the fans are

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making a lot of noise even if it’s the opposite fans always great to play in an good atmosphere

know more about you so firstly has to be the most important question to ask a football fan FIFA or PES?

Going back to your career Who has the best player you’ve come up against?

And who is the best you’ve played with? Why?

For me it has to be FIFA never been much of a PES guy.

Alought being the clubs top goalscorer would be a great achivement being a player in my position i would have to go for top assister.

Mourinho or Guardiola

One Direction or No Direction

Best player I’ve played against is probably Gary Cahill in the FA cup when I was at York he was playing for Bolton.

I’ve played with a lot of good players over the years for many of their qualities I played with Tom Clarke the Preston captain for near on 13 years through the academy at Huddersfield town he had a lot of strong defensive qualities we played in central midfield and had s good balance as I liked to get on the ball and he won it back.

Both great managers at their respectful teams but Guardiola has to win it for me as id say i prefer Barcelona over Madrid and now City over United.

I’m not really a big fan off theirs so it would have to be No Direction.

Where has been the best stadium you’ve played at?

The best stadium I’ve played I’d say would be Celtic Park the fans are fanatical We here at FTS like to bring fans closer to the players and teams so we do a little quick fire questions to get to

Top Goalscorer or Top Assister

Ronaldo or Messi

Would you rather score the winning goal and win a Trophy or score a goal to win the league?

Being a Barca fan id have to say Messi

Score a goal to win the league

Italian or Chinese

Cup Run or League Run

You cant beat a good Italian meal, alway have Pasta as a pre match meal.

League Run

McDonalds or Burger King As much as id love to eat fast food when you’re not at a team training regularly and having people watch what you eat, you have to watch what you eat your self so going of all that im going to have to say neither.

Marvel or DC I’m a massive Marvel fan so Marvel And finally if you never made it as a footballer what would you be doing?

I really don’t know I like my music and I play a few instrument so I’d have to say be in a band.

It’s always better when the fans are making a lot of noise even if it’s the opposite fans always great to play in an good atmosphere.

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BEN TOILLIT TALKS ABOUT TRANMERE’S AMBITIONS

Ben Tollitt, 21 is an English winger currently playing for National League side Tranmere Rovers, on loan from parent club Portsmouth. After being released from Everton’s academy in 2013, Tollitt has gone on to play 60 games scoring 22 times in his short career. Tollitt sat down with FTS to talk about playing a Hero & Villain, Pasta and One Direction.

Hi Ben thanks for sitting down with us here at FTS, firstly I guess we talk about the weekend it was a bit of a hero / villain show for yourself. But we won’t talk about that how did it feel scoring and putting your team further ahead in the match?

Not a problem at all and yeah it was a real bitter-sweet day to

be honest with you. Scoring my second goal in consecutive games was nice, was a great feeling to score at Prenton park and I’m hopeful there’ll be more moments like that to come but like you say but as for the second yellow card I believe it was the wrong decision as it’s there to see I was stood on but I won’t go any deeper into that.

After the goal went in how did you feel knowing that the fans were cheering for you? Do you get a sense of achievement?

The feeling of scoring a goal is something that compares to nothing else. It’s the best feeling in the world. When the fans cheer it’s so nice because to have anyone appreciate your work whatever job you’re in whether it be football or building is nice.

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You’re currently on loan from Portsmouth this season being a local lad was it easier to fit in at the club? And did you have todo an anitioation?

Yeah I suppose it helped a little bit. Makes you hungry to succeed as you want to help the club as it’s a club that I suppose is closer to you or you have a better feeling towards than others as you’re from the city. But also the lads and staff have made me fit in so easy, they’re a boss set of lads, really like them all. Suppose I answered that a bit before but yeah they’ve been spot on with me. I didn’t know what to think when I arrived apart from in training I thought id show them my ability and hopefully they would then take me serious and take to me which I think has happened and I get on with them all, good set of lads they are. And yeah I did have to do a little song, to be fair, don’t mind a bit of karaoke even though I’m tone-deaf. I sang the backstreet boys I want it that way.

You’re currently 3rd only on goal difference do you think you can achieve a top 3 finish come the end of the season?

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Being 6ft 2 I would like to win more headers. That would make me more of a threat in their box and add more to my game.

Yeah we are 3rd at the minute but 3rd isn’t where we wanna be, you play in a league to win the league and that’s what we wanna do!

How do you think the season has gone so far for yourself and Tranmere?

So far at the start of the season it started very well for Tranmere they went on a great run, then had a little dip and the manager was let go. After that I joined on loan and it has gone very well since both personally and as a team.

As a team we’ve been on a good run lately again and want to carry that on but personally for me I feel like my performances have been good but I know I can do more and improve more. I’ve come and finally been given a chance to play week in week out and in 6 league games I’ve returned with 2 goals, 1 assist, 2 man of the matches and been in the team of the week for the league 2 times which is pleasing.

You came through the ranks at Everton do you still look at their results on game day?

I was at their academy yeah but I’m a Liverpool fan, and they let me go when I was younger so I don’t really check to be honest. I have no need to. I check how the lads in my age group are doing but not Everton as a team.

If You could change one thing about your playing style what would it be and why?

Would probably be my ability in the air. Being 6ft 2″ I would like

to win more headers. That would make me more of a threat in their box and add more to my game.

Talk us through an average day for yourself on match day?

Normal for me for a 3pm kick off would be sleep in as much as I can and as close to 11am as I can, wake up, have some cereal, then beans on toast about 12:15, get a shower and get ready and leave to go to the stadium then before warm up I try to drink a Lucozade sport. I then warm up then go out on to the pitch for the first half and at half time have another Lucozade and go out for the second half and by the time the game is done, hopefully we have done the business and get the 3 points.

We here at FTS like to bring fans closer to the players and teams so we do a little quick fire questions to get to more about you so firstly has to be the most important question FIFA or PES? FIFA definitely!

Mourinho or Guardiola?

Neither, I’d pick Jurgen Klopp Ronaldo or Messi?

Ronaldo, he’s my idol, I love him

Italian or Chinese?

Italian, chicken and mushroom pasta! Yes please!

Top Goalscorer or Top Assister?

As much as assists are important and I wouldn’t mind that accolade, top goal scorer is the main one isn’t it so I’ll say that.

One Direction or No Direction?

Get enough of one direction in my car with my 5 year old sister so I wouldn’t mind a break from it to be honest haha Would you rather score the winning goal and win a Trophy or score a goal to win the league?

I’d say the league, it’d mean more because it’s what you work towards the whole season Cup Run or League Run? I’d say it’d always be nice to have a good FA cup run and get a premier league team in the 3rd round And finally if you never made it as a footballer what would you be doing?

I honestly have no clue. Before I signed my first professional contract I was working with my dad fitting windows, doors and conservatories so probably that to be honest

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