00:00Ben, thanks for doing this. We'll start with the obvious.
00:03Obviously, you had a big game to focus on the other night, but it was quite a unique one.
00:06How did it feel going into it?
00:08Yeah, no, brilliant for me.
00:11I mean, it's like my first kind of professional debut, I guess, on that side.
00:16So obviously, that's a big moment.
00:18And then also, making my debut for Barrow, brilliant.
00:22So, yeah, just by coincidence, obviously, against my home club as well, which was a nice touch.
00:27Yeah, were you getting to that point, you wanted to tick that off and make your first senior start?
00:33Yeah, no, definitely. I think, I feel like I've been ready for it kind of for a while.
00:38Kind of got, I'd say, a little bit stuck at Brentford, really, kind of doing like the third choice keeper role.
00:44I've been pushing kind of for a loan out for the last couple of years and then managed to get the filed one done last year.
00:50And then, yeah, no, I've just been kind of, like I say, ready for that next step and just ready to kick on now.
00:59Was it one of those you wanted to try and take the emotional side out of it, with it being North End and the club you support, I think?
01:05But, you know, after the game's done, I'm sure you reflect on it and think, wow, what a great moment.
01:09Yeah, exactly that. I think, like, before the game, do you know what I mean?
01:12I've only got one kind of focus and that's just, like, for my best in this game.
01:18So, like, I hadn't really thought into it at all.
01:22Obviously, like, my family are all Preston fans, so I think they were a little bit buzzing.
01:26But, like, for me, really, I was just kind of, like I say, focused after it.
01:31But, like, yeah, I got kind of a, it would have been better even still.
01:35Like, we could have gone on and kept the clean sheet and made it go to pens.
01:40But even still after the game, like, yeah, it felt good to have made the debut.
01:46And, yeah, just like, obviously, because it's Preston, I've got so many kind of, I know so many people around here.
01:52So, a lot were watching and it was nice to kind of get good, positive kind of feedback off of them after the game as well, which was nice.
02:01Yeah.
02:01They kept you busy, didn't they, North End, really?
02:05A lot of shots during the game.
02:06Were you pleased with how it went?
02:08Yeah.
02:08Obviously, a really unfortunate goal.
02:09But, aside from that, you must have been pretty happy.
02:12Yeah, no, I was pleased, to be fair.
02:13I think, I do think defensively, we managed to keep, like, the shots from distance.
02:19Do you know what I mean?
02:19So, I think that's always a good sign.
02:21I don't think North End really carved us open.
02:25But, I think, personally, I think I did what I had to do well.
02:30Like I said, a couple of saves.
02:33Quite a lot going along with feet.
02:35But, yeah, no, I think defensively, we were, like, we were pretty good.
02:39But, yeah, no, North End, like, did look sharp in bits as well.
02:42Yeah.
02:42If Barkie had scored at the end, you'd have been in a shootout, wouldn't you?
02:45You'd have been ready.
02:46I wouldn't have been classed that, I know.
02:47He struck it well as well, hadn't he?
02:49But, no, it just wasn't meant to be, unfortunately.
02:51What can you tell us about your connection with North End, Ben?
02:56Because, obviously, you've been in the game, you've forged a career as a professional footballer.
03:01So, how much time, as a young lad, did you get to go and actually watch the team and stuff?
03:05I saw your brother say you were a season ticket holder.
03:08Yeah, when I was younger, I'd say probably from about, like, eight to early high school years,
03:14probably a season ticket holder.
03:15And then I was at Blackburn at the time, so then the schedule changes.
03:20So, it starts, you then start playing your games on a Saturday.
03:22So, obviously, then that kind of took that away.
03:25Then I couldn't really go to the games anymore.
03:27But, no, growing up, it was North End Saturday, Tuesday.
03:31It's like you say, my brother's a massive fan.
03:33He goes everywhere.
03:34So, I didn't really have a choice, to be honest.
03:37Yeah.
03:38Do you manage to keep, like, in touch with it?
03:39Obviously, you're invested in the club you're at and their matches and stuff.
03:42Do you manage to keep in touch with what's going on around Eatdale?
03:47Yeah, I try to.
03:48I'm definitely not as in touch now as I probably once was, like,
03:51but all my mates are North End fans as well.
03:54So, do you know what I mean?
03:56They managed to keep me up to date with everything going on, like.
04:01Who did you like watching in them few years you got to go and see?
04:05Was that the promoter's promotion team, wasn't it?
04:07Oh, Lonergan.
04:08Yeah, it was Andy Lonergan when I was, like, I remember, like, my first kind of,
04:12when I first started going, it was, like, John Parkin, Sean St. Ledger, Moeni.
04:17Very likeable team, that wasn't it?
04:19Yeah, Mellor, do you know what I mean?
04:21And then, kind of, like, well, yeah, no, I think, I think I remember meeting Lonergan.
04:27He came into, like, my school or something when I was younger.
04:29Just, I was starting to, like, be a keeper and that.
04:32And, yeah, no, so I think he was probably, like, a bit of a role model, like, growing up.
04:39But, yeah, no, and then, like I say, unfortunately, kind of, well, not unfortunately,
04:44but eventually I had to, like, obviously start playing on Saturdays.
04:47So, then, yeah, I had to knock it on the head a bit.
04:49Yeah.
04:50Was it always goalkeeper for you?
04:52At what age were you?
04:53Started off as, like, well, I was probably up until nine.
04:59I'd say, like, a bit of a left-back.
05:01You don't really know your position at that age, but, like, outfield, really.
05:04And then it was weird.
05:06Some guy called my dad, like, knew my dad and said,
05:09oh, I bet your son's quite tall.
05:10Do you want to bring him down to, it was kind of like United's, not academy,
05:15but, like, you know, like a satellite team, kind of just, like, he's got their name.
05:19So, just started doing a bit of goalkeeping with him.
05:21And then he said, I reckon I should find a team.
05:23So, I joined AFC Blackpool.
05:26So, that was, like, my first kind of goalkeeping team.
05:29And then I was still playing outfield for Permanent St. Trees at the time.
05:34And then, yeah, just kind of got picked up from Blackburn and off I went.
05:38Went from there, yeah.
05:39And while you're not at North End, I'm sure you can appreciate people from the city
05:43who'll be invested in your story and want to see you doing well
05:46and a sense of pride with it.
05:47So, what was it like going down to Brentford?
05:49They're such an impressive club, aren't they?
05:51Everything they do.
05:52How did you find going down there?
05:54Yeah, no, I think, like, I really enjoyed it.
05:58I think there was, kind of every club I've been at,
06:01there's been something different to learn,
06:03something they do slightly differently.
06:05And when I first went down to Brentford,
06:07I knew David already from my time at Blackburn.
06:10And then, obviously, he was there and he's just top class, do you know what I mean?
06:13So, being able to, kind of, like, pick little bits up from him.
06:17Then, obviously, Mark Flecken as well, do you know what I mean?
06:20Top keeper.
06:21So, I think that's, like, massively helped me.
06:24And the way also Brentford play is, kind of, really, like, modern style now.
06:30So, I think being able to, like, get that side of my game developed with my feet
06:35and just, I think it's just helped, kind of, round me, if that makes sense.
06:40Yeah.
06:41And, obviously, leaving this summer, you've moved back up north,
06:45well, very up north, but I think they train in Manchester, do they?
06:48Yeah, yeah, train in Manchester, yeah, yeah.
06:50And you've got a two plus one, haven't you?
06:52Which is just, seems from the outside, like, a really solid thing to get sorted
06:55and you can just focus on, like, I'm at Barron,
06:57I'm going to try and get in the team and show everyone what I can do.
06:59Yeah, exactly that.
07:00I think it kind of, come to a stage, like, last year, like I say,
07:03I had a loan at Fylde and it was a tough year, but for me, personally, like,
07:08I loved it, do you know what I mean?
07:09It was kind of my first taste of that Saturday, Tuesday, Saturday, Tuesday,
07:13relentless season and it was just, like, do you know what I mean?
07:17It's just what I wanted to do.
07:18It's exactly what I've been pushing for for the last few years.
07:21So, to kind of get that, I didn't want to lose that again.
07:25So, I think it was kind of coming to a time where I had to then kind of go out
07:30and start my career and my stripes, if you know.
07:33And, yeah, no, it took me to Barrow and I'm looking forward to kicking on now, yeah.
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