EFL • NON-LEAGUE • SCOTLAND

The Cardiff targetman is raring to go with Wales at Euro 2020 – after an extraordinary journey via non-league, Norway and a day job as a lifeguard

Interview Chris Flanagan

INTERVIEW KIEFFER MOORE

How excited are you about playing at your first major tournament?

Massively excited. I only started playing for Wales a quarter of the way through qualification, and it’s been a whirlwind.

You were born in Torquay, but have a Welsh grandad. What did it mean to make your Wales debut in 2019?

There was some speculation about me being called up, then there was a thing about my grandad’s birth certificate – we couldn’t find it, so at first I couldn’t register. To finally make my debut was a really proud moment and my family was buzzing, particularly my grandad.

Had he always been keen for you to play for Wales?

Of course – he’s always said it. When you look from an outside perspective, you see the big names playing for every country and associate it with Premier League football. I had the opportunity after getting promoted out of League One [with Barnsley] and thought I’d go and make up the numbers. To play the role I did in qualifying was incredible.

You scored key goals in Slovakia and Azerbaijan – the Slovakia goal came in your first competitive start...

It was a big shock that I was starting in such a big game. I didn’t expect it that soon. But I’ve always backed myself, so scoring goals was something I knew I’d do. I don’t know why, but once I knew I was starting, I got it in my head that I’d already scored.

You’ve bagged hatfuls at club level for Rotherham, Barnsley, Wigan and Cardiff. Did it feel like you just had to perform in the same way for Wales, and you’d score?

Definitely. For me, it was no different. If anything, opponents had probably never faced the physical side against someone like me at international level. I felt I had an area I could dominate.

You’ve had quite a career – at 19 you were playing for Paignton Swifts in South Devon League Division Two...

It was like Sunday League football – it was my local team and I was having a kickaround with my mates, as they all played for them. I knew a coach at Truro, though, and before I turned 20, he asked if I’d go for a trial. I went, did well and was playing in the Conference South almost straight away. It was my first experience of semi-professional football and I scored 13 goals. Truro had some financial issues, so I joined Dorchester Town in the same division. I managed a few goals there too, then that summer I was picked up by Yeovil in the Championship.

“I’LL HAVE A MOMENT AND THINK, ‘I COULD BE SITTING BY THE POOL, NOW I’M AT THE EUROS’”

Did you also have another job during those non-league days?

I worked as a lifeguard. That was great, as I was doing a gym training course at the same time. It’s mental looking back at those days now! As a lifeguard, I was lucky that I never had anything major to deal with – there were little things, but no one drowned in my pool!

Was your aim still to become a pro?

I always thought I would make it. Even during those times when I was playing with my mates, I’d get told, ‘You score lots of goals, you’re a good player’. No one would ever have thought it would turn out the way it has, though, and I’d be where I am now.

Could you have foreseen it yourself?

At that point, no. My career has been full of highs and lows. After going from non-league to the Championship with Yeovil, I found myself dropping out of the Championship and out of League football again. I played in Norway for a bit [with Viking], then returned to the National League. I’ve had a hard path to where I’ve got to, but it’s contributed to the player I am. I’m grateful to be in the position I’m in – I’m not a guy who has a lavish lifestyle, I’m very down to earth and love what I do.

You mentioned your spell with Viking Stavanger. How did that come about?

I got contacted by an agent or director of football. I wasn’t sure at first. I didn’t want to drop out of League football but ended up giving it a go –I thought I’d get game and life experience. I stayed over there for six months. I didn’t play as much as I wanted but learned a hell of a lot, about myself and what I really aimed to get out of my career.

You joined non-league Forest Green, then Championship Ipswich, before dropping back to League One. In the last two years at Wigan and Cardiff, you’ve cracked the second tier. Why?

I’m just understanding my game – I’ve had a lot of great managers, giving me direction. I’ve improved physically and especially mentally, because before I’d have a little block where I had doubts. Now I simply go out and play football. I’m a confident person and I bring my confidence onto the pitch.

You hit 20 Cardiff goals in 2020-21. Did your popularity with the Wales fans play a part in your move there?

The reason I signed for Cardiff was that I felt a strong connection to the fans – as a player, you like to feel appreciated. Once I heard Cardiff were interested in me, I wanted to go there. I would have liked to help us win promotion, but my aim was to score goals, so I’m made up with how the season has gone. I’m not a one-dimensional player – for a bloke of my size, there’s so much I can offer.

Cardiff manager Mick McCarthy said in April that you looked “knackered” after working so hard. Do you think Euro 2020 will be incentive enough to keep going for just a little longer?

I play as a lone striker and it’s a really physically demanding role, but I’m not going to make excuses by saying I’m tired, because I’m not! I’ll give it my all, and if I keel over afterwards, I’ll say it then. But until that final ball is kicked, you won’t hear me say I’m tired...

Might there be a moment during the Euros when you think about where you’ve come from?

Yeah, you always have little moments where you look back and think, ‘I could be doing different things. I could have been sitting by the pool, now I’m at the Euros!’ I’ll have a moment like that, but then it’ll be straight to the task at hand. It’s a huge honour to represent Wales, and I’ll give it everything.