KYLE

WALKER

local hero

What did it feel like playing for England in the European Under 19 finals in the Ukraine? Would have been much better if we had won the competition but it was a good experience, although everything was a rush because I was signing for Tottenham at the same time. Found it hard living away from home for three weeks but at least I have played in a major final for England. I got named in the team of the tournament which was pleasing.

Did you experience any racism whilst playing in the Ukraine? None to me. I heard there might have been some though. Gavin Hoyte told the manager something had been said to him by a Ukraine player – our manager told their manager but I don’t know what happened afterwards.

Why do you think you made it as a professional football player? Sacrifices are probably the biggest thing, and my parents played a massive part and help me even now – my dad has never missed a match. The hardest was at weekends. You’d go to school Monday to Friday then my friends would be going out or to a party, they would ask me to come but if I had a match the next day I had to say no.

What made you stand out? I have always been quick, and this helped me a lot as I used to play up front and get on balls in behind the defence. I didn’t grow that much, and was small as a kid. I didn’t start to grow until the end of the first year of my scholarship (17 years old) and then they moved me to right back. I was on standby for England Youth against Scotland – they rang me the day before the game but I was in Jamaica – Lee Askham went and I didn’t go.

What tips do you have for youngsters wanting to become professional footballers? Just work hard because anything is possible.

Has anything changed in your social life in the past few months? It’s not changed too much. Again it’s about sacrifices and looking after your body, and eating the right things. The club advises you what to eat but ultimately it is down to you.

What are your ambitions in football and in life? I don’t want to have to come out of football and have to work! I want to have a good career and do the best I can. I am looking to prove myself at the top level, win trophies and be successful.

FOOTBALL UNITES, RACISM DIVIDES The Stables Connexions Centre, Sharrow Lane, SHEFFIELD S11 8AETel: 0114 255 3156�enquiries@furd.org www.furd.org

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KYLE WALKER_leaflet.indd 1 20/10/09 14:29:53

KYLEWALKERlocal heroKyle was the first player to be recommended by FURD coaches to Sheffield United, back in 1999. He first appeared for the senior squad at Leyton Orient in the FA Cup third round in January 2009, before making his league debut against Swansea in April. He went on to play for England in the Under 19 European Championships in the Ukraine, being named in the team of the tournament. In June Kyle signed for Tottenham for a reported £3 million plus add-ons, and was then loaned back to Sheffield United for season 2009-10.

Fellow Sharrow young footballer, and now FURD’s coaching coordinator, Keith Ward, interviewed Kyle at the Blades Academy as part of FURD’s contribution to the One Game, One Community weeks of action.

Do you see yourself as an inspiration to local young people?I hope so. I’ve proved that you can achieve in life, regardless of racial origin or where you come from.

If you hadn’t made it as a football player, what do you think you would be doing? What I wanted to do was be a chef – I’m a good cook now, I’ve got a wok at home - I don’t think I would have had enough GCSEs to be a PE teacher. I also wanted to work for the RSPCA, with animals.

How were you feeling in the build up to your home debut? Nervous, but excited. I knew Morgs would help me out a lot, he always shouts. And Cotts was playing in front of me, he helps you if you pass the ball to him, he’s such a good ball carrier, and he got me up the field a lot that day.

What was your first car? A Renault Clio.

What are you driving now? I’ve just ordered an X6.

What’s the best ground you’ve played at? Wembley.

Boots you wear? Umbros.

Who’s the player that you most look up to? At Sheffield United it’s got to be Gary Speed, but I like Gary Neville, even though he’s not the quickest. Playing in my position, he reads the game well and hardly ever gets beat.

What was it like growing up in a very diverse area such as Sharrow? Just normal really, everyone used to be out at the park (Mount Pleasant Park) playing football, and that’s where I learnt to play football really. Being able to play out whenever I wanted is probably what I miss most nowadays. It is important for football to embrace other cultures and diverse backgrounds.

What are your earliest memories of playing football? I trained up at Abbeydale Grange School and played in a match up there – can remember playing a Sunday League team and winning 20-0, that was for United. I’ve only ever played for United.

Can you remember the FURD coaching session at Abbeydale Grange with Paul Archer and Luis Silva? Akeem and Ishmael and their cousin Adam were going up to the training session and there wasn’t room in Adam’s dad’s car as he was bringing one of his friends, so I went home. But then they knocked on my door asking if I wanted to come – so I went up there, Paul Archer asked me for my number after the session and that was it.

What are your earliest memories of playing Streetkick? I can remember John Parrott the snooker player coming and playing Streetkick with us near The Hub. That is my earliest memory of Streetkick, though I played it loads of times.(In April 2002, Football Unites were approached by Sport Relief to put on a Streetkick event. The aim of the event was to highlight one of the ways in which money raised from Sport Relief could be used to fund initiatives that use sport as a way of overcoming problems between young people from different ethnic and cultural backgrounds. The event was filmed by BBC Sport, hosted by John Parrott and televised during the World Snooker Championships).

A young Kyle Walker

playing Streetkick at

the Sharrow Festival

Family home on the

Landsdowne estate,

Sharrow, Sheffield

Mount Pleasant Park,

Sheffield

FURD’s Keith Ward

with Kyle

KYLE WALKER_leaflet.indd 2 20/10/09 14:29:57