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The Football Interview S01E30
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00:00I'm Kelly Summers and this season I'll be interviewing some of the biggest names in football,
00:04asking them the questions they don't normally get asked as I try to find out more about the person behind
00:09the player or manager.
00:11The first half will be on football, the second on their life away from the game.
00:15This isn't just any interview, this is the football interview.
00:19And this week I'm joined by one of the breakthrough stars in the Premier League over the last couple of
00:23years,
00:24it's Nottingham Forest and England midfielder Elliot Anderson.
00:34Let's take you back to the very beginning, Elliot.
00:36Football, how did it first become a thing in your life? What are your earliest memories?
00:42I think just obviously I've got two older brothers who were football crazy as well.
00:47And my dad loved football and then just watching them sort of go and play football with their mates and
00:53things,
00:54I just wanted to copy them I think, so in the house there was footballs everywhere and we'd just play
00:59all day.
00:59Can you remember a first memory or a first like specific thing with your brothers maybe?
01:04Probably my first sort of training session with them, I think I went and joined them with their like team
01:09at my school on a Sunday
01:10and joined in there and I'd probably say that, yeah.
01:14How old were you at that point?
01:15I was really, really young, probably like the first, fourth.
01:19But yeah, just like messing about with them really.
01:22I would have stayed out of the games and stuff but they just took me along and the coach sort
01:27of let me join in so I think that's sort of what they tell me about.
01:30What was the first team then, the first proper team that you played for?
01:34I played for Warzone Boys Club.
01:35Yeah, so quite a famous boys club up in Newcastle that quite a lot of players I've actually played for.
01:42So yeah, I was lucky enough to get in a few trials for them and played for them for a
01:47few years.
01:47Tell us what that's like because as you said, as football fans we hear a lot about it because it's
01:52produced some fantastic players.
01:53Yeah, it's a great boys club.
01:55I think obviously everyone wants to be in academies in Newcastle and stuff but the few years before that I
02:02think the boys club to get to was Warzone and yeah, obviously all the, probably the best players around the
02:09area joined Warzone so that was good.
02:11Can you remember the moment you found out that you were going to be able to go and play for
02:15them?
02:16Yeah, I think it's just like trials sort of is like, I think I played under sevens to nines.
02:23So I think you go through trials and stuff and then obviously the group gets smaller and smaller and then
02:27you get sort of the final message to say you've made the squad so just happy at the time.
02:33In terms of where you went on to, obviously we know you went to Newcastle and you kind of came
02:38through the academy there and then you've been at another big club here in Nottingham Forest, two of England's biggest
02:42clubs.
02:43What was it like coming through at Newcastle and that experience for you?
02:46Yeah, it was amazing. It was obviously every kid's dream at Newcastle to play for Newcastle so yeah, I loved
02:54it, I loved every minute of it and just progressing through the ages and sort of getting closer and closer
02:59to that professional deal, obviously scholarship first and then signing my first pro was massive and putting that shirt on
03:06was an amazing feeling.
03:07How did you get from Warzone to Newcastle? Was that trials where you spotted there? Can you remember that process?
03:12There was a scout from Newcastle who sort of used to work at Wolvesend as well so I think he
03:17put my name forward and yeah, I used to go to obviously I think the development things before you could
03:22sign on at under nines and then yeah, like sort of I signed for Newcastle at under nine and had
03:27to come away from Wolvesend so it was good.
03:30Sad, I guess to meet Wolvesend but that must have been your ultimate aim, wasn't it?
03:33Yeah, definitely obviously it comes a little bit more serious, you know, boys club, you've got like tournaments of your
03:39mates and stuff and then you're going into the academy which is obviously where everyone wants to be but it
03:43just notches it up a level.
03:46Was there a moment where you kind of looked around maybe when you were at Wolvesend or after where you
03:51thought, okay, I could make it here, maybe I've got this opportunity to make it professionally?
03:57I think that would be probably too young then. I was always a good player and stuff and everyone would
04:02tell me, you know, they'd say, you're better than your brothers.
04:05How did that go down?
04:06Not very well. But no, I think that was probably too young. I was probably just playing for the enjoyment
04:12and stuff and then maybe it's obviously towards 15, 16, you sort of get an inkling that you could possibly
04:20go all the way.
04:20There's obviously a lot of years to come but I think, yeah, I was sort of, at that age, I
04:24was sort of getting quite excited that I felt like I was good.
04:34Has there been a turning point? If you look back on your career and you think, if that hadn't happened,
04:38maybe I wouldn't be sitting here playing in the Premier League, playing in Europe, playing for England right now?
04:43Obviously, the most obvious one is leaving Newcastle. That's not to say I probably, I might not have been in
04:49this situation if I hadn't have left but you never know, dear.
04:52I've sort of, I've came to Forest, I've came out of my sort of comfort zone and I've sat where
04:56I am now and I'm really happy that I sort of made that move.
04:59What about coming here has got the best out of you?
05:02Sort of just, I think, obviously, the club just believed in me and gave me a sort of, the platform
05:07to go out there and show everyone what I can do on a weekly basis and it just helps so
05:11much when you've got that sort of backing behind you and then, yeah, off the pitch as well, it's given
05:16me that sort of confidence within the group, you know.
05:18Last season I was quite shy and stuff and now I feel a bit more like a leader within the
05:22group so, no, it's a really nice responsibility on me and I'm enjoying it.
05:25What's changed then? How have you become from this shy player to now a leader?
05:29I think just maybe it's performances, you know, like, yeah, sometimes when you're a new player and you maybe don't
05:37feel part of the group enough, you keep opinions to yourself and, like, trying to help teammates and stuff but
05:43now I sort of, I feel like I've got that voice within the group and, yeah, I think I'm happy
05:48about that.
05:49Was it a big change as well, I guess, from coming from a club that you knew so well to
05:53a new club and getting used to kind of how they do things differently, I guess?
05:57Yeah, definitely. Obviously the faces at Newcastle were all I knew for three, four years going up to the first
06:05team but, yeah, that change sort of took me by surprise but I thought I took it really well and,
06:10yeah, my first weeks here I really enjoyed it and it helped me settle in well.
06:14You mentioned you're a leader, what kind of leader are you, do you think?
06:19I would say more, like, more on the pitch as a leader, not, like, necessarily, you know, like, big talks
06:25in the changing room and stuff.
06:27I'll leave that to Brian or Morgz or whoever. Maybe it's just leading by example on the pitch, I think,
06:32and communication and stuff like that.
06:35You've become an England international as well, that got a smile straight away. What has that been like for you
06:40and has it kind of given you a new level of confidence?
06:43Does it change the way, kind of, you feel on the pitch?
06:47Yeah, definitely. I think Atomebi's also played a part in, like, feeling like a leader, you know, bringing that sort
06:53of confidence in my voice and just the belief in me that people sort of recognise that I'm sort of
07:00the player that I thought I was.
07:01You know, I've always believed in myself but when you've got the backing of other people, it really helps.
07:07Talk to me about Thomas Tuchel when you got that first call-up because I imagine that's every little boy's
07:12dream.
07:12Yeah, it is. I think it was for the, we had Crystal Palace away and I was just sat in
07:18the changing room getting ready for the game and a message came through, TT, and he was like, can I
07:24see you after the game?
07:25Hold on, you knew what TT was straight away, though?
07:27Well, I just had a bit of a guess, yeah, because there was a bit of talk around it at
07:30the time and then it said, can I see you after the game?
07:33So, straight away, my nerves were going before the game and stuff and, yeah, I just knew I had to
07:38perform and then he told me the news after the game, so I was buzzing.
07:42It looks like he's put a lot of faith in you and he's obviously a big fan because straight away,
07:46I mean, it helped with your performances but it feels like a lot of people are saying now,
07:50not only are you going to be in the squad but one of the first names on the team sheet.
07:53How does that feel?
07:53Yeah, it's good. Yeah, he's a top coach, you know, he's really sort of helped me going in the group
08:00and, yeah, just sort of coaching me, coaching me that role, you know, I hadn't played it too much before
08:05and then I've obviously dropped into the six a little bit more and he's helped me understand the game and
08:10coach me.
08:11What is your best position or what position do you enjoy the most?
08:15You're going to be careful here, aren't you, because you're not going to want to upset any managers or...
08:20I used to be an attacker, to be honest, I used to be like a number 10 or a winger,
08:23sort of, and then I've slowly just dropped back.
08:26You're saying that as if you didn't want to.
08:28I really don't care, to be honest, six or eight, I'd say, six or eight, you know, getting on the
08:32ball and finding sort of the attacking players and getting them the ball early in the pockets and letting them
08:38do their stuff and then obviously when I play eight, like the other day, I've got more of an opportunity
08:42to shoot and score even, so I really like both.
08:45Yeah, so a lot of people will think of you as a defensive midfielder, but actually you still want to
08:49score goals because you've mentioned goals a few times during this chat.
08:51Yeah, definitely. It's the hardest thing in football, isn't it? So, yeah, it's something I would love to do more.
09:02What do you think has changed for Nottingham Forest from last season to this season?
09:06Because you've spoken about, as players, trying to maintain your levels, but you haven't quite reached the heights after a
09:12phenomenal campaign last year.
09:13It's tough to sort of put a finger on, like, what has changed.
09:18Maybe we were really good defensively last season, you know, as a unit and clean sheets and stuff and set
09:24pieces and things, and maybe we've sort of lacked in that department a little bit this season.
09:27But maybe it's just a little bit of teams understanding what we were doing last season and sort of realise
09:32the way we played and stuff.
09:34So now we have to sort of evolve our game a little bit and change.
09:37But, yeah, we're all just doing what our manager asks.
09:40Bring it back to yourself.
09:42What's the best match you've ever played in or perhaps one that you wish you could relive?
09:46I really enjoyed the semi-final against Man City last season.
09:51I really enjoyed that one.
09:52Obviously, we didn't win, but playing at Wembley was really special.
09:58And I'd probably just say my England debut.
10:00I loved that, you know, coming in from the start as well and performing well was...
10:04What can you remember from it? Talk me through it.
10:06Imagine even the build-up and everything.
10:08Yeah, I was pretty nervous, to be honest, as I think everyone would be, you know, in the warm-up,
10:13you know, and you're thinking every pass needs to be good and stuff.
10:17And then your first few touches, I think, as I sort of started well, it sort of gave me that
10:20confidence.
10:21And, yeah, just sort of the free-flowing.
10:23I just picture the passing, getting the ball, passing forward, you know, being involved in a lot of the stuff,
10:28which I'd probably like to do.
10:30In terms of everything you've achieved so far, what do you still want to achieve in football?
10:34I think, obviously, we're in the best league in the world, the Premier League.
10:38So, I would say just staying in here, the Premier League, as long as I can and playing as many
10:42games in the Prem.
10:44And I'd love to win a major trophy of England, yeah.
10:47This summer, maybe.
10:47Hope so.
10:48Talk to me a little bit more about your life away from the pitch then.
10:52You've already mentioned that you've got two older brothers.
10:54What was that dynamic like, other than the fact that growing up there was obviously a lot of football involved?
10:59Oh, yeah, I loved it.
11:01Probably two of my best mates growing up, you know, would do everything together.
11:04Three brothers just always messing about and play fighting and just carnage, really.
11:09And your brothers, of course, one of them is also in the kind of public eye as well, but doing
11:13something different to yourself.
11:14Yeah, yeah, he went on Love Island, actually, a few years ago.
11:18What was that like for you?
11:20Yeah, it was funny.
11:21We'd all sort of watch over a pillow blocking when he does some sort of cringy stuff, let's say.
11:26But, no, it was really good.
11:28He really enjoyed it and he'd done really well as well.
11:31So, no, I was really happy for him and he's came out and sort of gone down a different pathway
11:38in his life from beforehand.
11:39And he's really, really excelling in what he's doing.
11:42Because he's doing boxing now, isn't he?
11:44Yeah, he started boxing.
11:45He really enjoyed it before he went on and stuff.
11:47And it was always something he'd like to do.
11:50He sort of quit football quite young and he really enjoyed like sort of Mai Tai and boxing sort of
11:56things.
11:56So, he sort of went down that avenue, yeah, and he had a fight the other night.
12:01And you went and watched him, didn't you?
12:02Yeah, I did, yeah.
12:03And he's kind of often in the stands to watch you as well, is that right?
12:06Yeah, yeah, definitely.
12:07It was sort of roles reversed and I went to support him and he comes to support me all the
12:12time.
12:13So, yeah, I went to give him that extra bit of support and he'd done really well.
12:17Do you get to go home often to your family?
12:19What does an ideal day off look like for you?
12:21Um, probably one day off is too short to get up to Newcastle because of the travel and stuff.
12:27But if I get two days off, I'll head up and see my family here and spend the time up
12:33there, you know,
12:33in a nice beach and stuff and just chill out.
12:37But they're down here all the time, obviously, with the games.
12:40What does a day off look like then?
12:41I'm imagining you just get normally one day off probably because of Europe and stuff as well.
12:44What would you do?
12:45I'd go out for breakfast.
12:47Got a nice spot around here which I like to go to.
12:50Walk the dogs.
12:51You've got dogs?
12:52Yeah, yeah.
12:52Multiple?
12:53I've got two dogs.
12:54Yeah, a sausage dog and a German shepherd.
12:56Names?
12:57Um, Leo and Obi.
12:59Okay.
12:59Have you got those recently or...?
13:01Um, I've had Leo for about a year and a half and then just got Obi about six months ago.
13:06Oh, wow.
13:07Are they puppies?
13:08Carnage.
13:09Do a little bit of my recovery stuff that I've got going on in the house and play Call of
13:13Duty.
13:14Oh, you're a Call of Duty player, aren't you?
13:16I was about to ask Hobbies.
13:17Yeah.
13:18Is that up there?
13:19Call of Duty at the minute, yeah.
13:20I've got some of the...
13:21Obviously, I go through phases of playing PlayStation and stuff from when new games come out.
13:25But at the moment, we've got a little group going on Cod and, yeah, that's what we spend
13:29on most of our nights doing.
13:30You know what the next question is?
13:31Who's in the group?
13:32Uh, it's me, Nico and Maury and Maka.
13:36And...?
13:36We have two V2s here and there and, uh, me and Nico come out on tour.
13:41You are going to say that because they're not going to defend themselves.
13:44No, they're very good, actually.
13:45They're very good.
13:46So, days off for you, all about chilling and stuff.
13:49Are you quite a chilled person?
13:50Yeah, I am, yeah.
13:51You can sort of probably tell.
13:53I think everyone says that.
13:54I'm pretty relaxed, you know, and quiet.
13:56Yeah, I'll just sort of chill in the house, you know, and recover from a game, really,
14:00and get ready for the next one because I've had so many this season.
14:03You mentioned it before, the fact that you've kind of come out of your shell a bit
14:06and a few people that worked here told me it's been the same.
14:08They've noticed you kind of come out of yourself, maybe get used to your environment a little bit more.
14:13How much has life changed for you over the past year or so?
14:16Yeah, it has a lot.
14:19And as I say, obviously, people, when I sort of first joined here,
14:22everyone sort of said how quiet I was and stuff.
14:24And it just takes me time to sort of come out of my shell, I think.
14:29And, yeah, I can't stop talking now, really.
14:32But, yeah, no, I'm quite quiet and people might sort of think I'm, I don't know.
14:37I was speaking to the lads earlier sort of before this interview saying, like,
14:40I think one of the questions was what would surprise you about me sort of thing.
14:44There you go.
14:44You've done your research.
14:45I'm impressed.
14:46Yeah, because the lads were sort of saying and they said maybe people think you're quite miserable.
14:50And I was like, oh, cheers.
14:53And so, yeah, maybe it's that.
14:54So if I'm the outside, I probably look like maybe it's quite miserable and boring.
14:58So have you just asked one of my questions and answered it yourself?
15:01Because it had me thinking before.
15:03I didn't really know what to say, to be honest.
15:04Did that surprise you that they thought you were miserable?
15:06Not really.
15:07Oh.
15:08So you're aware you come across quite...
15:10Maybe it's a little bit, you know, I just, um, not miserable.
15:13It's just, I don't know.
15:15Everyone says I've got a bit of a poker face.
15:17Sort of never know how I'm feeling and stuff, you know, but, uh...
15:20Have you dealt with that going into England then?
15:22Have you been quite quiet there?
15:23I knew people going into England, so that was a little bit different.
15:27I think coming here, I didn't know anyone.
15:29So it was a few tough weeks, but in England I sort of know people and things
15:35and that's made it so much easier.
15:37Can you remember any of my other questions?
15:38You can ask yourself them as well if you want.
15:40No, I don't. I don't know any.
15:42What was your first training session like with England then?
15:45Because you've spoken about nerves, being quiet.
15:48What did it feel like?
15:50No, yeah, it was great.
15:51Obviously, as you say, I was nervous going into it,
15:53but I think one of the big things I felt like going to England
15:57was, like, sort of almost getting the approval of your teammates,
16:01you know, sort of showing them you're a good player.
16:04So that's all I was sort of focusing on in the first session,
16:06you know, was trying to show what I can do
16:09and that I'm a good player, really.
16:10Tell me one thing that people get wrong about you the most.
16:13People always spell my name with two T's.
16:16That's one T.
16:16That must be really annoying, isn't it?
16:18That's annoying.
16:20That's quite...
16:21I think you can have that as an answer, to be honest.
16:24Well, thank you for speaking to us then.
16:25Hopefully we've dispelled a few myths.
16:27If people see you not smiling, you're not grumpy.
16:29Oh, yeah.
16:30Maybe I used the wrong word there.
16:31Maybe it's just a poker face, you know?
16:33That's probably good.
16:33People don't know.
16:34Keep people guessing.
16:35Crap with poker, though.
16:37Just...
16:37I can.
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