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Ivan Toney Finally Opens Up About His Ban & Reveals His Preferred Future Team!

Brentford FC, Arsenal FC, Manchester United FC, Liverpool FC, Wolves FC, Newcastle FC! 00:00 Intro 02:02 What Made Ivan Toney? 04:57 Bouncing Back from Rejection & Going to Newcastle 10:59 High-Paid & Mixing with the Wrong Crowds 12:15 Advice to Your Younger Self 13:28 The Disappointment When They Loaned Me Out 16:17 Transferring to Peterborough United & Change of Attitude 22:54 Becoming a Father & Improving My Game 24:18 Finding Out Brentford Wanted Me 27:17 The Unseen Reasons why Brentford are so successful 32:11 Being Player of the Year at 26 Years Old 33:27 Why Didn’t You Make It To the Final World Cup Squad? 37:25 Hitting Rock Bottom 42:04 Your Famous Tweet 45:38 Scanning Your Phone for Personal Data 50:08 Gambling and Its Impact on Your Mental Health 01:14:45 Your Family & Brentford's Fanbase Support 01:18:38 What’s Next for You? 01:25:59 What Advice Would You Give Your Children? 01:29:07 What Would You Like to Say That You Haven't Said Before? 01:31:11 Racism in Football: Taking the Knee & Vinicius Junior 01:33:58 Countdown Until Your Next Match 01:37:33 Last Guest's Question Follow Ivan: Instagram: ⁠https://bit.ly/47wdaMe⁠ Twitter: ⁠https://bit.ly/3QM9a4p⁠ My new book! 'The 33 Laws Of Business & Life' pre order link: https://smarturl.it/DOACbook Join this channel to get access to perks: https://bit.ly/3Dpmgx5 Follow me:  Instagram: http://bit.ly/3nIkGAZ Twitter: http://bit.ly/3ztHuHm Linkedin: https://bit.ly/41Fl95Q Telegram: http://bit.ly/3nJYxST Sponsors:  Eight sleep: https://www.eightsleep.com/uk/steven/ CODE: STEVEN (save $150 on the Pod Cover) Huel:⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://g2ul0.app.link/G4RjcdKNKsb Wework: https://we.co/ceoworks

Steven BartletthostIvan Toneyguest
Aug 21, 20231h 46mWatch on YouTube ↗

EVERY SPOKEN WORD

  1. 0:00 – 2:02

    Intro

    1. SB

      In May, 2016, you did a famous tweet. "I'll speak soon with no filter." You ready to speak?

    2. IT

      100%. Ivan Toney! Ivan Toney.

    3. SB

      Ivan Toney handed an eight-month ban.

    4. IT

      Seismic news for the Premier League. (crowd cheering) That sums it all up. Football is brutal. At 15, being rejected at Leicester. At 18, I got to Wolves, got a squad number, took the pictures. Out of nowhere, the club said, "We're not looking to sign you no more. You have scoliosis in your back."

    5. SB

      Has it affected your game?

    6. IT

      Toney! Ivan Toney! I don't feel like it has. Hard work beats talent when talent doesn't work hard. I'm built different.

    7. SB

      Ivan Toney has won his first England call-up. You missed out on the final World Cup squad. Do you know why?

    8. IT

      The allegations. Somebody's out to get me to stop me from playing for England. Ivan Toney-

    9. SB

      ... has been suspended for eight months-

    10. IT

      ... with breaching betting rules.

    11. SB

      I read the whole FA report. You acknowledged that you lied in that meeting with the FA.

    12. IT

      I didn't lie, I just couldn't really remember.

    13. SB

      You admit to doing 32 breaches.

    14. IT

      The majority of those, I didn't do, but I took responsibility, so the whole process could be cleared up.

    15. SB

      But, uh, the bit I just struggle with is the using someone else to do the bets. You'd said to your mate, "I can't have that one in my name," bets for your team to lose.

    16. IT

      It's a bigger story.

    17. SB

      What impact was it having on your life?

    18. IT

      With me, I never show nothing. I don't show emotions. So there's been times I've just ... I'm in a room on my own, just looking to thin air and just ... It hurt. When I'm back, though, I do the talking on my feet.

    19. SB

      You gonna get back to football? Clubs are going to come knocking?

    20. IT

      The next club I go to, if I was to move, it would be (beep) . (dramatic music)

    21. SB

      Before this episode starts, I have a small favor to ask from you. Two months ago, 74% of people that watch this channel didn't subscribe. We're now down to 69%. My goal is 50%. So if you've ever liked any of the videos we've posted, if you like this channel, can you do me a quick favor and hit the subscribe button? It helps this channel more than you know, and the bigger the channel gets, as you've seen, the bigger the guests get. Thank you, and enjoy this episode. (upbeat music)

  2. 2:02 – 4:57

    What Made Ivan Toney?

    1. SB

      I always believe that to understand a person, you have to understand their earliest years. I kind of see our earliest years as the, like, oven that we're formed in. So if I, if, if you take me back to your earliest years, what do I need to know about you to understand the man you are today? What were the characteristics of that environment that shaped you?

    2. IT

      Just out the front of ... Where I live is like, on the front is a park, and like, the older guys would just be out the front playing and there's me at like, 7, 8, trying to get involved, and these guys are like, 15, 16. And (laughs) they were playing rough.

    3. SB

      Mm-hmm.

    4. IT

      No matter if you're 8, 9, 10 trying to play with us, play with them, they're gonna be rough, so that kinda helped me into today's game, how I am now, progress a lot quicker. And like, even when I was like, 16, breaking through at Northampton, I kind of had that bashing around at a young age by the older guys. So being 16, getting bashed around by men, let's say, I was kinda like, used to it.

    5. SB

      What about hard work? What was your ... Were you a hardworking man at that age?

    6. IT

      In terms of running and that, I never liked running. (laughs) I was, I was always the lazy one at the back of the, uh, uh, the back of the group, 'cause I knew when it's time to get on the pitch, I would score goals. But, like, we all know, hard work beats talent when talent doesn't work hard. So it's like, kinda like, if you, if you've got the talent and you can work on the hard work and put them both together, then you give yourself the best chance of becoming a top athlete.

    7. SB

      And you, and you put the work in to improve that part of your game and attitude?

    8. IT

      Yeah, I had to. Because there was, when I was training, like, when I was at Leicester, I got told I wasn't getting a scholarship there, so then I went to ... I didn't really wanna play football as much, 'cause being rejected at Leicester, it's kinda like, "Oh, okay, let me just chill for now." But then like, my parents were just like, "Go to, go to Northampton." 'Cause there was a game that we played Northampton when I was at Leicester, and then I think Northampton said, "If anybody gets released from them, let us know." I think Leicester must have put me in touch with Northampton, and I was, I was kinda like, um-ing and ah-ing about going. But then I ended up going, and it was kinda like, everybody's playing for a scholarship, and then it was, like, on the last day, everybody already knows they're getting a scholarship, and I was the only one that wasn't told. So everyone is in the dressing room talking, "Ah, have we got a scholarship, scholarship?" And I'm there, still on trial, thinking, "When am I getting told?" And it wasn't until the next morning, on the meeting, like the first meeting where all the scholarship players joined up, I got a phone call and said, "He's got a scholarship. We'd like him to come down and ..." I think that point was kinda like, "Okay, I got a scholarship. This is my chance

  3. 4:57 – 10:59

    Bouncing Back from Rejection & Going to Newcastle

    1. IT

      now."

    2. SB

      But there was a moment there where you were, because of the rejection from Leicester, you were considering doing something else with your life.

    3. IT

      Yeah, I feel like nobody likes rejection. Like (laughs) , being rejected is not the best feeling. And it being like, basically you're not good enough-

    4. SB

      Mm-hmm.

    5. IT

      ... to be playing football. I, how I saw it, you're not good enough to be playing football. Even though it was just, I'm not good enough for Leicester, I might be good enough somewhere else. Somebody else might value what, my qualities a lot more than Leicester did.

    6. SB

      It's hard to see that in the moment though, isn't it?

    7. IT

      It's, uh, yeah, it's very hard. It's very hard, and-

    8. SB

      At, what was it, how old, 16?

    9. IT

      It was like, 15, yeah.

    10. SB

      15?

    11. IT

      Yeah. It's kinda like, you don't wanna, you don't really want that rejection again.

    12. SB

      Mm-hmm.

    13. IT

      It's like, a kind of fear of getting that again. Then when I did, like I said, when I got the scholarship and just knew it wasn't happening again.

    14. SB

      'Cause your journey through football, just generally, has been a real climb. You know? It's been a real, real climb. Like, and also, I reflect on the fact that most, so many kids at that age, 16 years old, they get, they get a rejection and they don't bounce back from it. And if they don't make it to the very top, they'll often...... take that badly and pursue a different career path. But, you were rejected at 16, you persevered, you got into the team at North Hampton, you made a good, um, good impression there, and then eventually you end up at Newcastle at what, 19?

    15. IT

      18.

    16. SB

      18 years old.

    17. IT

      Yeah.

    18. SB

      How was that experience?

    19. IT

      It was crazy. First time away from home at such a young age, 18 is like... And as well, you thought you was a man.

    20. SB

      (laughs)

    21. IT

      Like from week two, there was talks of you going to a Premier League team. And like, I would- I would never in the North Hampton changing room feel like I was a man. Like there was talks going on, but nothing's done until it's done. So it's kind of like... Actually, before I was going to Newcastle, I was supposed to go to Wolves.

    22. SB

      Right.

    23. IT

      But, and I've got there, I've got to Wolves, um, I've met everybody, went in the changing rooms, got my s- number on. Met, uh... Took the pictures. They come to the, the contract side. And then I think there was a bit of talk with my agent and the club on certain things, and then they related back to us. My-- it was all just confused me and my family, didn't know what was going on. And then out of nowhere the club come out and said, um, "We're not looking to sign you no more due to you having scoliosis in your back." So it was just ... We was so confused from getting a squad number, meeting all the players, meeting all the staff, and then for them to come out and say "Your scoliosis in your- in your back, we wasn't- we're not looking to sign you." It's kind of like, is that really the reason? Is there more behind it? But then, be- from going- having to go back to North Hampton. Like I said my goodbyes at North Hampton and I'm supposed to be going to Southampton Wolves then the next day I'm back in North Hampton and training with the boys. Everybody's like, "What's happening?" And the manager sat me down and listen- said, "Listen, don't dwell on that. I'm sure other things will come in- come into place." And I think a few weeks later Newcastle were interested and I went there.

    24. SB

      Scoliosis in your back? What is scoliosis and were they aware that you had scoliosis?

    25. IT

      I feel like they was aware because before we set up to see a specialist because they- they- they... I feel like they wanted to know what was going on, how bad it was 'cause I think certain scoliosis, it stops you from walking at a certain age and just gets worse and worse. But, I feel like... I- uh, we did see a specialist, he said, "You'd be lucky to be walking at 28 still."

    26. SB

      Really?

    27. IT

      Yeah. And then I was just... Like it doesn't really register, like you're thinking at the time at 18 I'm thinking, well, I'm fine now. I'm- I'm enjoying football now so it's... Don't really register but being 27 (laughs) , closer to 28 you kind of think, well, I'm strong, fit and healthy. Touch wood continuously so...

    28. SB

      What is scoliosis?

    29. IT

      When your back's not straight.

    30. SB

      Damn.

  4. 10:59 – 12:15

    High-Paid & Mixing with the Wrong Crowds

    1. SB

      What happened?

    2. IT

      I feel like when you take that step you get- you get noticed more. You get more money. And you s- just do silly things like, like you get mixed in the wrong crowd going out here and there buying things you wouldn't normally buy. Just a bit naive and as well being away from my family, although they kept on telling me, "Don't be- do nothing silly. Look after your money," and this and that, you kind of think, okay, but they're not here to control what I've got hold of right now. I can spend it on this, I can spend it on that. Like you just do things you- like I said, things you'd never normally do. Like we're getting personal shoppers to come to the house and who do I think I am? Go- go to the shop and buy it yourself-

    3. SB

      (laughs)

    4. IT

      ... stuff if you want to do that. (laughs)

    5. SB

      (laughs)

    6. IT

      So it's like these kind of things. But yeah, I think it... It didn't come at me fast, I wouldn't say that. I'd say just like a surprise kind of thing like-... like I said, I thought I'd made it. So whatever happens, I'm fine. I'm in the Premier League.

  5. 12:15 – 13:28

    Advice to Your Younger Self

    1. SB

      What was the advice that you needed at that point that you didn't get? Like, if you could go back now and have a chat with Ivan and say-

    2. IT

      Mm-hmm.

    3. SB

      ... "Listen, bro." You arrive at Newcastle that day, and you get w- a chance just to say a couple of things to him. What do you say?

    4. IT

      I'd sit down and have a long chat with him. (laughs)

    5. SB

      (laughs)

    6. IT

      It would be a long chat. (laughs) No, I think I'd just say like, "This is where the hard work starts. It's not finished. You're not- you can't put it on cruise control. You've got to go to extra gear." Like, yeah, I'm at a Premier League club, but I haven't played yet. (laughs) I've not got continuous games under my belt to be saying, "Okay, I'm a Premier League player now." So it's like, I'd say to, yeah, a younger Ivan, or anybody that's in that situation going, doing such a big jump, to say, "That's when the hard work starts."

    7. SB

      Were you in cruise control, do you think?

    8. IT

      Yeah.

    9. SB

      Yeah?

    10. IT

      If, if I, if I even was moving, I'd probably put the handbrake on. (laughs)

    11. SB

      Really? (laughs)

    12. IT

      Yeah. I just thought, "I'm Premier League now." And as well, you're seeing all the big boys, like, literally training there. It's like, "Yeah, I'm here now."

    13. SB

      And you played two games-

    14. IT

      Yeah.

    15. SB

      ... before they loaned you out.

    16. IT

      Yeah. I come off the bench twice against United and

  6. 13:28 – 16:17

    The Disappointment When They Loaned Me Out

    1. IT

      Chelsea.

    2. SB

      And then you went on quite a long loan spell. Barnsley, Shrewsbury, Wigan, Scunthorpe. When you find out you're getting loaned out, how do you receive that as a player? I've always wondered this. When you're a young player in the club, big- you're in the Premier League, 'cause I think that's a lot about Manchester United, as being a fan, we always loan out our, like, younger lads. And I wonder how, how that's positioned to you as a player, and how you receive it.

    3. IT

      It's not the best feeling.

    4. SB

      Okay.

    5. IT

      'Cause a- at the time, it's kind of like, "What, do you not want me here?"

    6. SB

      Mm-hmm.

    7. IT

      Like, (laughs) I'm here, now you want to send me away like?

    8. SB

      Yeah. And you've got the personal shopper coming over, so you need to- (laughs)

    9. IT

      Exactly. Yeah, yeah. (laughs) So I need to-

    10. SB

      (laughs)

    11. IT

      I need to sort some things out to be- (laughs)

    12. SB

      You can't be in Shrewsbury. (laughs)

    13. IT

      Yeah. I don't think they'd travel that far, but... (laughs)

    14. SB

      (laughs)

    15. IT

      But no, yeah, I feel like, like it's at that age, you don't really think what you're going on loan for. I mean, first team experience is the c- is probably the best at that age as well. And like, knowing like, 'cause I feel like, no disrespect to youth team football, it's cool, like tic-a-tac-of pretty football. Then going to League One, like I said, on loan, you're going to get bashed around, so you need to be ready for that physical battle. And I feel like going on loan definitely helped me. Looking back now, it helped me a lot. But at the time, I was thinking, "I don't need to go on loan. I'm ready to be playing in the Premier League." I feel like from young, I've always had that, that my dad always told me, "No matter where you are, if you have that mentality that you're a Premier League player, but at the moment you're just on League One, that's fine. But if you don't have that mentality that I'm a Premier League player, so I don't need to try here, then (laughs) it's not going to work out." So it doesn't matter where you are. If you have the mentality, "I should be playing in the Prem, but right now, I'm playing here." That's fine. And I feel like you'll, you'll go, you'll go a long way to where I am now. I'm a Premier League player, and that bit of advice that my dad gave me was, was very key.

    16. SB

      When you went off on loan, and they say, "Okay, you're leaving Newcastle now," does that take you out of cruise control and into like, "Right, I've got something to prove again"?

    17. IT

      It should. It should of.

    18. SB

      But it didn't?

    19. IT

      But it didn't really, 'cause I always believed that no matter what happened, where I went, I'm going back to Newcastle. So no matter if I played, didn't play at all, or played rubbish, I'm going back to Newcastle, back to the Premier League. But not knowing the effects that could have, or it did have in the end. Even though I think all the clubs I went to, bar one, I was f- I left top goalscorer. But it was like, I could have, looking back, I feel like I could have went that extra step further.

  7. 16:17 – 22:54

    Transferring to Peterborough United & Change of Attitude

    1. IT

    2. SB

      You had a good spell as well at Scunthorpe United. Six goals in 15 appearances. Showed a huge promise while you were on your loan spells as a prolific goal scorer. And then at 22 years old, you transferred to Peterborough United after failing to secure a regular place at Newcastle. Now that, that must have been an interesting moment, because that's kind of like another knockback innit? Goes back to like Leicester, the Leicester rejection and stuff. That's like another step down. You've made it to the Prem, and now you've got, got to take a step down.

    3. IT

      Yeah. It was a mass- not, actually not, I wouldn't say a massive not- knockback. It was a knockback, but it was kind of like, maybe a knockback I needed at the time. Because like, I remember sitting down with my dad and the a- my agent at the time, and saying, "Listen." Like, me and, me and my dad are brutal. Whoever we work with, we want the, we want the honest, honest truth. No matter if they say, "We don't want him. He's not good enough for us." I'd rather my agent tell me that. But how the relationship was at the agent- with my agent at the time, he kind of sugar-coat things.

    4. SB

      Right.

    5. IT

      So me and my dad kind of had to get out of him, "What did the club say? Like, just tell us. Be honest." And his words were, "The club don't think you're good enough already at the time, at this moment in time." So it was kind of like in my head, it was like, "Okay, fine. No problem." It's time for me to go elsewhere, then regroup and restart. It wasn't like I was too old. It was just, it was just a knockback and setback that, like I said, at the time, probably needed to kickstart my journey again.

    6. SB

      Do you think Newcastle were right in saying that?

    7. IT

      Um, possibly. Like, don't get me wrong, Newcastle are a great club. They had some, they've had some great players and doing very well at the moment. But I feel like I didn't really have a chance in the first team to prove if I was good, good enough.... I feel personally, anyway. I know, to be fair, at the time was when Newcastle were fighting to stay, stay up in the Premier League when Rafa Benitez first come in.

    8. SB

      Oh, yeah.

    9. IT

      So it's kind of understandable he wanted these players to try and keep them up.

    10. SB

      With wanted experience and stuff more than, like, to be giving youth, younger players a chance and stuff? Is that what you're saying?

    11. IT

      Yeah, I feel like, I mean, you can't really put so much responsibility on youth players or young players to keep you up in the Premier League 'cause it's such a big ask. But I feel like maybe the s- the following season it was kind of like, could he get a sniff? And I think he kind of brought his, his, his own players in and done his own, own thing, which is, that's foot, that's football.

    12. SB

      So off you go to Peterborough. Um, you're closer to your family at this point?

    13. IT

      Yeah.

    14. SB

      Which helps.

    15. IT

      A lot closer, yeah. I'm a mummy's boy at heart, so I need my mum around, close.

    16. SB

      And did it change your attitude moving to Peterborough, on like this whole cruise control thing? Did it-

    17. IT

      Yeah, it did, and especially when I went to, first went to Peterborough, I wasn't playing. Like the first, I'd say, 10 games, the strikers that were in front of me was scoring every game, assisting, playing well. But the manager at the time, Steve Evans, was just saying, "Don't worry, your chance will come, and when your chance comes, it's up to you to take it."

    18. SB

      And your chance came.

    19. IT

      Yeah, and then-

    20. SB

      And you took it. (laughs)

    21. IT

      Ah yeah, 100% took it. (laughs)

    22. SB

      You scored 24 goals in 32 League One games at Peterborough, which is insane.

    23. IT

      Yeah, I feel like, yeah, like, well, the, like, the, the competition's all over the field, but especially as, as a striker you need to, your job's to score goals. And especially when the other two are scoring goals, if you get that one sniff and you don't score, you're back out again and it gives him another opportunity.

    24. SB

      The director of, um, football at Peterborough said you were an incredibly hard worker. He also said you were their best defender because you headed away nine out of ten corners.

    25. IT

      (laughs)

    26. SB

      So, yeah.

    27. IT

      I feel like, yeah, them games I kind of had a magnet on my head that was just bringing the ball towards me. But, yeah, no, I think the hard work as well. Like, when, when I'm loved by a manager, I feel like, and a club, I feel like it's in me to want to give back. I want to do a lot of things for, like run through a brick wall for the manager that's wanted me in this position.

    28. SB

      Did they become like proxy father figures to you in that regard? 'Cause you're clearly a man that's close to your father.

    29. IT

      Mm-hmm.

    30. SB

      Did they kind of... You know, you see what I'm saying? Is that, is it a similar relationship, like a, where you want to do them proud?

  8. 22:54 – 24:18

    Becoming a Father & Improving My Game

    1. IT

      in the end.

    2. SB

      And yeah, around this time, I mean, just before then, at 21 years old, you become a father for the first time.

    3. IT

      Yeah. I mean, that's, that's as well what helped me kick start my journey as, as well, 'cause I feel like I've got people to provide for. Um, I have expensive taste as well, so it's either choosing my expensive taste or (laughs) my family.

    4. SB

      (laughs)

    5. IT

      So if I could score goals and help both, then it's perfect. So I think that's what helped me pick things up and had to provide for people.

    6. SB

      Does, does that focus you? 'Cause I'm not a dad yet, but I, it's around the corner for me, I'm sure. Um, does that focus your priorities in a sense? Like, does it make... 'Cause I, I speak to my, my mates who have all had kids and they almost describe that moment when their baby first comes, they kind of see the world differently and their, like, responsibilities differently and stuff.

    7. IT

      100%. 100%. Like, you can't do the things you normally do. You have to think baby first (laughs) in all aspects. It's like-

    8. SB

      Did it make your game better?

    9. IT

      100... Yeah.

    10. SB

      Really?

    11. IT

      Yeah. 100% definitely.

    12. SB

      How?

    13. IT

      Just in, like, I want to make him proud.

    14. SB

      Uh-huh.

    15. IT

      So when he's older, "That's my dad. He's done this, he's doing this, this, this, this." So it's kind of like a pride thing as well as wanting to do well for my family and have a, have a better, better lifestyle for everybody, not just me and my people I provide

  9. 24:18 – 27:17

    Finding Out Brentford Wanted Me

    1. IT

      for.

    2. SB

      When, when did you find out that Brentford are interested?

    3. IT

      It was actually training at St. George's Park-

    4. SB

      Yeah.

    5. IT

      ... uh, with Peterborough. And there was talks of going here, there, and I was kinda like, I'm gonna know when, just like, yeah, when it's, when it's something concrete, then let me know. Uh, uh, right now, I just wanna focus on training hard 'cause it's easy to be led astray when this club's interested in you, this club's interested in you. You hear loads of things, but then nothing's concrete. Like it's, it's all well and good, "These are looking at you. These are looking at you." But this time, I'm not a kid no more.

    6. SB

      Mm-hmm.

    7. IT

      When they want me and put a bid in, then we can start talking. Whereas, hearing, "They're interested," what does that mean? (laughs)

    8. SB

      (laughs)

    9. IT

      That doesn't mean nothing. Like everybody can be interested, but nobody wants you.

    10. SB

      Yeah, yeah.

    11. IT

      So when Brentford come along and they were, they was interested and actually put a bid in, then it was kind-- it was like, okay. I spoke to the manager, and he kind of was straightforward and said, "You're gonna be coming in to be the main man. We want you to be starting every game and score goals and do your job, then either take us up or go to a, go to, go to a higher club."

    12. SB

      So you get that call from Brentford, they put a bid in. You speak to the manager, Thomas Frank?

    13. IT

      Yes.

    14. SB

      And Thomas says, "Listen, you're gonna be our number one."

    15. IT

      I think it was a no-brainer. I think I did speak to other clubs, um-

    16. SB

      What other clubs?

    17. IT

      ... I went up, actually, I went up to Rangers.

    18. SB

      Oh, nice.

    19. IT

      Spoke with, uh, the manager there, which was Steven Gerrard at the time.

    20. SB

      Hmm.

    21. IT

      And-

    22. SB

      Manchester United, did you speak to-

    23. IT

      Yeah, they said I wasn't good enough. (laughs) No, I'm playing-

    24. SB

      Oh, I was gonna say, I was like, "Fucking calling me up." (laughs)

    25. IT

      (laughs) No, yeah, I went to, I went to, um, I went to Rangers. We spoke a bit, but then they said there was like two, I think there was two strikers at the time.

    26. SB

      Hmm.

    27. IT

      And then they was looking to get another one in, so it would've been like four strikers, I think. And I think the formation they play is majority of the time, one striker at the top.

    28. SB

      So you would've been like third choice or something?

    29. IT

      Yeah, something like this, uh, but, and then, uh, we went to Celtic. We spoke to Celtic, and I think it was like the same there. I'm, I'm one of three strikers or something like this. And I think at the time of when it was I was moving, I wanted to be like the main guy.

    30. SB

      Mm-hmm.

  10. 27:17 – 32:11

    The Unseen Reasons why Brentford are so successful

    1. IT

    2. SB

      You, you've worked a lot of clubs. Um, you've played at a lot of different clubs. Brentford are special. They're really, really special 'cause they are, based on their resources, they are objectively overachieving in a really, really significant way. Um, what is it about Brentford from your experience that is make... What is that magic that they have?

    3. IT

      Hard work, plain and simple. Hard work. Like we're not the best technically gifted team. We have some magicians in the team, but other than that, it's just hard work. I mean, and we fear nobody. We respect them, but we don't fear them. So when we go to, let's say, Anfield away, or Ch- Chelsea away, or these kinda games, we know they're probably on paper better than us, got some big names and this and that. But if the, the, the... At the end of the day, the main thing that wins the games is hard work and a little bit of quality, I guess, putting the ball in the back of the net. And I feel like throughout the, throughout the club, everybody knows what the manager wants. You have to, you have to be, you have to be willing to run for your teammate, the person to your left, the person to your right, and the fans and everybody. And everybody knows the responsibility they have on their shoulders when they step onto the pitch. So I think that's, that's probably what's brought us to where and how well we're doing at the moment. And even, like, at the moment, the team playing without me, I, I hear, and people say, "Oh, do you reckon Brentford gonna be like this now? You're not playing this and that." And I'm thinking, "No, they're not gonna struggle because (laughs) they, they work hard." And when you work hard, you give yourself the best chance of winning a game. And I, I, I know deep down Brentford will be fine with or without me.

    4. SB

      Well, you've played at a lot of clubs, right? So you can kinda compare and contrast. Is there anything else other than just that work ethic that you've noticed is just different at Brentford? So you've got super hard work. Is there anything else, the, their approach to things, or the strategy, or the way that they-

    5. IT

      I feel like the to- togetherness as well, how everybody's like, everybody talks to everyone.

    6. SB

      Yeah.

    7. IT

      And I've been at clubs whereas it's like a certain group sit there-

    8. SB

      Okay.

    9. IT

      ... a certain group sit there, like everybody's divided. It's like, but it's not that at Brentford. Everybody mixes with everybody. Like you got people who are sp- Spanish, Danish, which is mo- majority of the club at the moment. (laughs)

    10. SB

      (laughs)

    11. IT

      Um, English, and everything. And everybody just mixes together. So it's not like, "Oh, let me... Where, where are my friends? Where should I sit down at lunch?" You just get your lunch, you sit down there, and you talk with whoever.

    12. SB

      And the manager?

    13. IT

      That comes from him. I feel like he makes sure the togetherness and the humbleness, like there's no... Nobody at the club thinks they're better than nobody. Like even last season, I scored 20 goals. I wa- I wasn't about nobody. I was the same. A person that doesn't really play too much, they're not less of a person than me.

    14. SB

      Hmm.

    15. IT

      We're all the same. We're all in it together.... so I feel like that comes from the manager, and his philosophy of the club and how he wants things to be run.

    16. SB

      One of the things that you, I often think with managers and CEOs and stuff like this, they have their, like, core principles, which you just get bored of hearing 'cause they say it over, and over, and over, and over again. What are those things that he just repeats over, and over, and over again?

    17. IT

      Togetherness.

    18. SB

      Yeah.

    19. IT

      Humble.

    20. SB

      Yeah.

    21. IT

      And attitude.

    22. SB

      And I guess he polices that pretty-

    23. IT

      Yeah. All the time. It's all over the club. It's, uh, all in the meetings, which is probably why, like I said, we do, we're doing so well as a club and as, as a, as a whole, whole unit.

    24. SB

      What's the, what's the dressing room, the training ground dressing room culture like? Again, I ask this 'cause I've spoken to so many players at United in particular, and especially in the Fergie years, they always talk about the, like, the, the self-policing culture in the dressing room. You know? Like, what's that like versus other clubs?

    25. IT

      It's... Yeah. It's g- like, like I said, it's, yeah, it's good. Uh, the, there's other clubs I've been at where it's, it's been good as well, but not how it is in Brentford. I feel like Brentford is probably one of the best dressings I've been in in terms of everybody knows their drill, uh, everybody, everyone knows their position, everybody's helping others. Like, everybody's just, like, the respect if something's on the floor, tidy, pick it up, put it in there. Like, them kind of things is key if you wanna be achieving something big. And I feel like with that in the changing room, as well as in the gym or in the, in the, in the dinner hall, is, is key and everybody's up for everybody 'cause it's like one big family unit.

  11. 32:11 – 33:27

    Being Player of the Year at 26 Years Old

    1. SB

      26 years old, you're named Brentford's Player of the Season. Um, you scored 12 goals in the first Premier League season and then you scored 20 goals in your second Premier League season, finishing third in the Golden Boot rankings behind Haaland and Harry Kane. That's big.

    2. IT

      Yeah. (laughs)

    3. SB

      (laughs)

    4. IT

      It is big. It is big. But sometimes I don't really realize how big it is 'cause sometimes I'm at home and I'm thinking, "Yeah, but I'm not first." In my head, if you're not first, you're last. Then, like my family say, "Look who you're behind and look at the caliber of players that are playing in the Premier League, and you've scored more than these guys." I'm always thinking, "Yeah, but I could've scored more and-"

    5. SB

      You think you could score more than Haaland?

    6. IT

      (laughs) What you got so far? It's like 30 something?

    7. SB

      36.

    8. IT

      I mean, not- (laughs)

    9. SB

      (laughs)

    10. IT

      I mean, not more, but I look back on chances that should've been a goal and I feel like there, there probably is like 15, 16 chances that I probably could've scored or should've scored. So if I was as clinical as Haaland was, not to say I would, I would beat him, but- (laughs) I could be a lot higher than, a lot higher than 20.

  12. 33:27 – 37:25

    Why Didn’t You Make It To the Final World Cup Squad?

    1. IT

    2. SB

      England. England's football team. I saw, I think I saw a post on your Instagram a couple of weeks ago about that being a huge dream of you to play for England.

    3. IT

      Yeah. I think everybody wants to play for England. (laughs)

    4. SB

      Yeah. When you were a kid just kicking the ball at the shed.

    5. IT

      Yeah. And I remember s- just screaming, like, Gerrard's name and Lampard's name, like, when I'm on the field just kicking and, like I said, when that opportunity was around and I was in talks of it, it just didn't, it didn't feel real from being Ivan from Northampton just playing out of the front, getting bashed around by the older lot to actually having the chance to play for England was something I would never have dreamt of.

    6. SB

      You missed out on the final World C- Cup squad. Um.

    7. IT

      S-

    8. SB

      Lots of circulating rumors about why. Would you know why?

    9. IT

      Um, I guess, I guess it comes down to allegations on the betting scandal, but I feel like, personally, I felt like it was a bit of a questionable time when they decided to bring it all out. And then when they actually dealt with the situation come the end of the season, it was kinda like, "Why'd you bring it out then to, uh, then punish me at the end of the season?"

    10. SB

      So they brought it, so you, I, I guess you're saying that you suspect they brought it out at that time to prevent you going to play for England?

    11. IT

      I assume so and to make it a bigger story.

    12. SB

      Ah, okay.

    13. IT

      Personally, anyway. I, I don't know if it's true. Like, how not to know what's behind the scenes, but I feel like if you have somebody going to the World Cup that's supposed to be betting, then it's kinda, like, a bigger story.

    14. SB

      What's the rel- I'm not very clued up on this wh- whole FA thing. So the FA, the England team play under the FA?

    15. IT

      Yeah.

    16. SB

      And the FA are also the sort of body that brought the charges against you?

    17. IT

      Yep.

    18. SB

      So they, so one might assume that they released the charges at that point because if they didn't then there might be some ramifications on the England team or the perceptions of the England team or something?

    19. IT

      Yeah, I assume so.

    20. SB

      Right.

    21. IT

      Actually, like, like, I, I'm not too aware of all this stuff, but I feel like it's just a bit of a coincidence when they decided to bring it, it all out and then having to be dealt with the punishment at the end of the season so far after.

    22. SB

      Mm-hmm.

    23. IT

      It's kinda like, I mean, you know I, well, I feel like, yes, I'm banned now, but the biggest punishment for me was missing out on playing at the World Cup, personally. I felt more hurt and, what's the word, kinda like (smacks lips) hurt and...Yeah, I just- I just felt- I felt down around the time. I felt like somebody's out to get me at that time to stop me from playing for England. It was in my head, like, that's- that's how I s- seen it at the time. It's like they wanna punish me for this, missing out on England. The World Cup, like, that's everybody's dream, to be playing at the World Cup. And then further down the line, ban me as well. It's kinda like a double hit, I feel, in a sense, whereas, like I said, if you was gonna do- if you were gonna stop me from going to World Cup, do it there and then and deal with it. Just deal with the whole situation. Rather than doing that, missing out on the World Cup, and then letting me play the rest of the season, and then banning me after the season. Pff. It's- it doesn't add up in my head, to be fair, anyway.

  13. 37:25 – 42:04

    Hitting Rock Bottom

    1. IT

    2. SB

      When you say, "I felt down about it," what does that mean in re- in real terms? If I was a fly on the wall, in your life when- when that information came in.

    3. IT

      That was probably my... (clears throat) Excuse me. That was probably the, like, the lowest point. I was like... With me, I never show nothing. I don't show emotion too tough. But I think that was probably the lowest point I felt. Like, you'd ask me about it. I was, uh, "Yeah, it is what it is." But that it was- it's what it is, is kinda like...

    4. SB

      I don't wanna talk about it.

    5. IT

      Yeah. Damn. It hurt. It did hurt.

    6. SB

      D- uh, do you cry?

    7. IT

      No, I don't feel like crying solves anything. Personally, that's my personal views. Everybody says to me, "You need to show emotion. You can cry. It's, it's, it's okay," but like... I feel like I've only cried once when I see my nan cry from losing my pap and seeing her hurt as much as she was killed me inside. And then it was kinda like... I didn't cry-cry, but it was like tears in my eyes coming down. It was kinda like... It was painful.

    8. SB

      Did you express your, uh, how you're feeling to anyone in your life at that point? To your partner, to your family, your mum, your dad? When you- when you find out that you're not gonna play for England and they've sort- you know, the rumors are out about this gambling situation, do you tell anyone how you're actually feeling?

    9. IT

      Um, no. But people that know me know my actions and wh- how that leads to how I'm feeling. Like, I'd be a lot more, like, snappy about things or I'd just be like... Like I could just be like there and someone would be talking to me and it's not like really registering, but my- my head's not really in the room kind of thing. And that people that know me know, like, something's up, something's wrong.

    10. SB

      What was the reality of the situation? What was going on inside your head? And how was it... When you say down and you say that was the lowest point, how- what- what does that mean in real terms?

    11. IT

      Um, pff. I wouldn't say depressed as such, but it was kinda like not far off that. If anything, towards that direction, but not completely. 'Cause like, like still how I stay. In my head it's like, next opportunity, next- next day. Another day is another day to put things right and try and be as positive, like, as I can.

    12. SB

      Have you ever had an- anxiety?

    13. IT

      Probably. But how I am (laughs) it- I don't let it get to me as much.

    14. SB

      Mm-hmm.

    15. IT

      Like, I'd say the lone spells. When- when I'm on loan, I'm in a room on my own, there's been times I've just literally sat there with- without the TV on, just- just sat there and just like chilling and just looking into thin air and just thinking about things. But I'd never... Like I said, I'd never like let nobody know how I'm feeling 'cause of how I am as a person. Uh, I feel like it- it- it eats away at me, but I'm just always the smiley one. Always, like, like you ask people at Brentford now. I'm the joker. I'm making sure everyone's fine, these kind of things. I think that's my kinda way of beating my emotions on... If I see this person happy from me doing that-

    16. SB

      Hmm.

    17. IT

      ... then it kinda brings me up to make me happy kinda thing.

    18. SB

      Did you- did you not speak to anyone, like a professional, about- about this stuff? 'Cause I always think when we bottle up our emotions, it's not like they go away. It's like almost like they- they eat us up from inside and they- they come out in other ways, like you were saying. Snappiness or whatever or- you know.

    19. IT

      Uh.

    20. SB

      Surely there's someone around you that said you need to see someone.

    21. IT

      Yeah, there's- yeah, there was. But as well, me being stubborn is kinda like, "Nah, I'm fine. It's fine." Like, "I'll be all right ne- tomorrow. I'll be all right later. I'll be all right next week." I feel like I can speak to anybody in my family, but like, my stubbornness just don't allow me to.

    22. SB

      I think a lot of men can relate to that, you know?

    23. IT

      Yeah. 100%. I- I feel like I do need to get better at that, personally.

  14. 42:04 – 45:38

    Your Famous Tweet

    1. SB

      In May 20- 26th, uh, you did a famous tweet.

    2. IT

      Mm-hmm.

    3. SB

      Do you know the tweet I'm talking about?

    4. IT

      Yeah (laughs) .

    5. SB

      "I'll speak soon with no filter." You ready to speak?

    6. IT

      Um...

    7. SB

      And what- what did that tweet mean?

    8. IT

      Um, that was just speak on everything really. But obviously when I done that, it went crazy and then, I think my family just said, "Listen, you don't need to talk. Just when you get on a pitch, let your feet do the talking."... but once the damage is done, you can't talk, and it's not gonna help no situation. If anything, could not damage my reputation or my career, but just make people think ... Not that I care what people think. It's just could put in the works that, "Who does he think he is?"

    9. SB

      Mm-hmm.

    10. IT

      That kind of thing. But it, it doesn't benefit no parties.

    11. SB

      What headspace were you in when you tweeted that?

    12. IT

      Probably a reckless one.

    13. SB

      Really?

    14. IT

      Yeah. Just thinking-

    15. SB

      How were you feeling?

    16. IT

      Thinking, "Pfff, I don't care," attitude, I'd say.

    17. SB

      Kind of a defense mechanism against-

    18. IT

      Pretty much, yeah. Against everybody. Like, even, like, little things. Like, for the whole situation. Not, not like with my friends. My friends are my friends, the ones I sit with. They're the people I, I chill with all the time. But it's even like when I go ... I don't know if it's just me thinking certain things, but it's like when I go certain places, like, maybe some people don't wanna be associated with me in a certain way of ... Obviously, j- because of media kind of thing, and it's kinda like ... Not killing their image, but it's kinda like, "You chilling with this guy? He's a match-fixer. He's v- he's match-fixing football. The, the ..." And, like, even, like, I remember at the time, when there was allegations, I wanted to go into a restaurant, and they was like, "No, you can't. Uh, we're not, we're, we're not taking you."

    19. SB

      The restaurant?

    20. IT

      A restaurant. And I was like, "What do you mean?" They was, "Uh, 'cause the allegations, we're not allowing you in," or something like this. I was actually so confused. I was thinking, "For starters, it's allegations. And secondly, you're a restaurant. How can you not let someone in due to 'bad press'?" That's what they called it, bad press. I was just baffled, and even to, like, my, uh, my car insurance (laughs) . They wouldn't insure me due to the, the whole scandal. And I was just like, "A car insurance, they don't want me on their books because ... " Which was baffling.

    21. SB

      I read through the, the whole, um, FA report, many, many pages. I think it was, like, 25, 25-odd pages. I have it here. Just to understand the case better, just so I make, mak- made sure I didn't make any errors in my observations. But there's no ... I think there's actually a line in there where the commission say they, um, didn't believe that you were doing any match-fixing.

    22. IT

      It was far from match-fixing.

    23. SB

      Yeah. I, I wrote that down in my, in my notes that, um, they concluded that you hadn't been match-fixing or anything like that in their report. Um, so that, that allegation from whoever said that, the restaurant or whatever, um, doesn't seem to have a basis in the report at all.

    24. IT

      And I'm sure there was certain articles on saying match-fixing as well, which is, that's probably the media for you, making it big, talking point.

  15. 45:38 – 50:08

    Scanning Your Phone for Personal Data

    1. IT

    2. SB

      When the FA first contact you and, and they ask ... They make a request for information, don't they? So they wanna know more information.

    3. IT

      Yeah.

    4. SB

      This is dating back to 2022, I believe. When you get that first contact, how does that feel? Like, your dad or your agent must have told you that the FA have been in touch.

    5. IT

      Well, they wanted information from as far back as 2015. So it was kinda like, "Well, I haven't got no ..." For a start is I haven't got a phone that I (laughs) I had back then to give you information. But I'm willing to cooperate how I can to let you investigate what you wanna investigate. And when I was, when I ... The club actually pulled me into a room, and they spoke to me and said, "The FA have been in touch with you match-fixing this and that. They wanna speak to you." And I said, "Okay. No problem."

    6. SB

      This is Brentford?

    7. IT

      This is Brentford, yeah. I said, "Okay, no problem," like ... Then he's, he was like, "Have you done any bets whilst, whilst you've been at Brentford, and have you been betting on football?" And I was like, "No, I haven't, I haven't, I haven't done no bets outta fixing, fixing foot- match-fixing football." Like, he was like, "Okay, well, the FA wanna speak to you. Don't delete nothing on your phone because there's a system. They, they said they can get back old messages," or whatever they said. So I said, "No problem. I'm not, I'm not deleting nothing if the ... They can go through what they wanna go through."

    8. SB

      And then they called you in for an interview in May 2022?

    9. IT

      Yeah.

    10. SB

      And they ask you all these questions again about what, what you've been involved in with betting, et cetera?

    11. IT

      Yeah. And they asked me certain things that happened, like I said, seven, eight years ago, um, to the top of my head. S- so much information in front of you at one time, it's kinda, like, actually can't remember. I can't remember. And it's ... I think I was in there for, like, what? F- five hours.

    12. SB

      Five hours?

    13. IT

      Yeah.

    14. SB

      But at that time, you, you maintained to them that you're, you're not betting on football?

    15. IT

      Yeah. And I was, I wasn't aware what, what they were, what they was trying to get at.

    16. SB

      You acknowledged later on that you, you, you basically lied in that meeting with the FA.

    17. IT

      I didn't lie. I just couldn't really remember what, what they was asking for. At the time, I couldn't remember until they brought certain things in front of me, and then it was kinda like, "Okay, he's talking about my memory," and we ... Like I said, I cooperated with everything they wanted to do, and we kinda spoke on it, and then I told them the truth about everything.

    18. SB

      One of the things pe- people might find surprising is they, they asked for your, they asked for your mobile phones and stuff, and then they, like, image your mobile phones to check, like, all the messages you've sent to people going back a long time on the, on these phones to find out everything you've been said. And also, as you said, they, they ask you not to delete any messages, which you didn't, from, from what the commission said. Um, but how does that feel when the FA ask for your mobile phone, and they ... You know they're gonna scan it for everything?

    19. IT

      It doesn't feel ... Yeah. It's just kinda like-... it's your privacy, and they're, they're like invading it. It's kind of like I've got something pitched on there I wouldn't want 'em to see, like, (laughs) these kind of things. So it's pretty much, like, you have to go with what they're saying. Otherwise, I feel like, I think that you, you get a longer ban for not cooperating or something like this. So it's, what, what can I do? You asked, "You wanna take my phone? Take my phone."

    20. SB

      And all your bank statements as well.

    21. IT

      Everything.

    22. SB

      They asked for all your bank statements, which you handed over as well.

    23. IT

      Yep.

    24. SB

      Um, you handed over, I believe, multiple phones.

    25. IT

      No, just the one phone.

    26. SB

      Oh, just the one phone?

    27. IT

      Yeah.

    28. SB

      Okay. I thought there was a, th- there was some-

    29. IT

      They, they said there was another phone, but there wasn't. (laughs)

    30. SB

      The commission admit-

  16. 50:08 – 1:14:45

    Gambling and Its Impact on Your Mental Health

    1. SB

      Yeah, and the report actually does say that. It says that you weren't, you weren't, it's, the commission said that you weren't match fixing-

    2. IT

      Mm-hmm.

    3. SB

      ... which is a completely different, completely different thing-

    4. IT

      Yeah.

    5. SB

      ... than making bets on, like, games that you're, either you're playing and betting on yourself to score or betting on the team when you're not in the team.

    6. IT

      Mm-hmm.

    7. SB

      Which is what, from what I read, which is what, what happened. Gambling in general, when did that start in your life? When did you start first gambling?

    8. IT

      Um, I think it's just kind of like, as you're young, it's like f- like a, a little flutter they call it. Like, you're in, like, the fair arcade kind of thing, just trying to win a little change or something or these kind of things. So I'd say, like, uh, around 15. 15, yeah, 15 as such.

    9. SB

      And it, and it got progressively worse or more intense?

    10. IT

      I'd say, yeah, I'd say the more money you get, the more, the higher the stakes go. It's kind of like, "Oh, if I lose, this is fine. This is coming next month."

    11. SB

      Was, did you not realize, you know, throughout those sort of five years when you were betting a lot, uh, 232 breaches, that your relationship with betting was unhealthy?

    12. IT

      I think on the, on the 200 and, what was it, 32 breaches-

    13. SB

      Yeah.

    14. IT

      ... like, there was, there was some bets in there that, that I don't recall making. But that, but I was willing to take responsibility just to get the process all over and done with, 'cause having that hovering over me and trying to concentrate on my career is not, is not the best feeling. Far from the best feeling, and I've done, I've done well to finish on 20 goals with that hanging over me. But in terms of thinking do you have a problem, it's kind of like you don't think of, "Oh, if I lose this, this is gonna happen." So it's like, "Oh, w- once I win this, this, this, this, and this can happen." Uh, you never think of the negatives. You'd always think of the positives. And being on the money I was on, which I thought was a lot at the time, and it's kind of like, "It's fine, I'll get there in the back end of the month. Oh, that's coming back this and this month. Oh, he owes me this. It's fine."

    15. SB

      What impact was it having on your life, betting?

    16. IT

      Um, I feel like, uh, it was just, the impact it would have, it was just waiting for payday.

    17. SB

      Right.

    18. IT

      Like, no matter what happens through the month, you're waiting for payday.

    19. SB

      What, you could spend your wage and then wait for payday, spend your wage, wait for payday?

    20. IT

      Yeah. But I'd, I'd pay and sort everything I need to pay for first. And then it's like, "Right, I've got this to play with. Do that. That's fine. Payday will come soon." So it wasn't, uh, it wasn't like, "Spend this money I should be given here or paying on this."

    21. SB

      You took care of your bills, right?

    22. IT

      I took care of what needed to be care of and in my head it's kind of like, "My money's my money, but I can spend it how I wanna." And yeah, pretty much, pretty much like that. I've made my own money. It's up to me how I wanna spend it.

    23. SB

      And one of the, one of the things that was quite surprising is bets against, bets for your team to lose when you weren't playing in the team. There, you, you, you must, you knew betting was wrong, right? Like, you knew that as a footballer you weren't a- allowed to bet?

    24. IT

      My knowledge of not, uh, my m- my knowledge of betting on football, though I don't think I recall once somebody coming and just giving a talk on their experience of betting, not, "You can't bet on football." So it wasn't like, "I shouldn't be betting on this, shouldn't be betting on that." And I feel like, uh, I think the bets that were on my team to lose when I'm not playing, I think a few of the, a majority of those were within the bets that I know, about personally I think I didn't, didn't do, but I still took responsibility of them, for them, so the whole process could get cleared up.

    25. SB

      And you, um, you don't know about some of these bets you're saying because you did them through somebody else?

    26. IT

      Yeah.

    27. SB

      Because... And you did them through somebody else because you, you knew you weren't allowed to, right?

    28. IT

      It wasn't through that I knew I wasn't allowed to. It was that I didn't see my, I didn't want my parents seeing what I'm doing with my money.

    29. SB

      This was a point of contention in the, in the documents. The, the FA said, you know, he was betting through somebody because he didn't want, he didn't want the FA to find out. You're saying you, you bet through somebody else because your parents, w- the mail was going to their house and you didn't want them opening up the post and seeing it-

    30. IT

      Yeah, that's right.

  17. 1:14:45 – 1:18:38

    Your Family & Brentford's Fanbase Support

    1. IT

    2. SB

      And the club standing by you in such a way, has that kind of cemented your loyalty a little bit to Brentford?

    3. IT

      Yeah. I feel like, like I said earlier, I, I want a manager and a club to, like, really want me and put their arm around me. And I feel like, throughout the whole situation, Brent- Brentford have done that. Like even, even the players as well. Like I spoke to loads of them. They don't agree with it, but it is what it is. And...

    4. SB

      And your mum?

    5. IT

      Uh, yeah. She's... Like when I was... Like, we're going back to the tweet, when I s- when I put that tweet out, she was the first person that rang me and messaged me and said, "Listen, you don't need to do nothing. Just don't do it no more, please." I've been... Saying now she's been sick for... She feels sick in her stomach for however long, throughout the whole situation. And putting it out there, she's just thinking it's gonna damage me, damage her, and damage the family, and things like this. So I just thought, "Okay, let me just do the talk on my feet, and when I'm back, and get, get the family, not only smiling, but happy, happy again." And I'm sure they can't wait, well, they, they can't wait till they see their son back on the pitch scoring goals.

    6. SB

      Does she... Does it mean the most to you to make her happy and to make her feel good?

    7. IT

      All my family, yeah. I feel like, like she always just texts me randomly, and she's like, uh, she always, "Uh, I don't wanna bother you." Sometimes I just check on Whats- I'm sitting on WhatsApp to wait for you to come online to know you're okay, and alive, and well. And, but that's just, that's how my mom is. Like there'll be sometimes she... Like my mom, she knows (laughs) and she does, she calls me random times. It'll be 12:00 at night, or it would be early doors. "Just checking in." I was, "Fine. Love you so much," this and that. But yeah, that's her favorite one. Checking to see if I'm online on WhatsApp, rather than pestering me in her eyes. But, so I think making them happy and making them smile is what, is what gives me the thrill to do well.

    8. SB

      The Brentford fan base?

    9. IT

      Yeah. Strong. Massive, and-

    10. SB

      Sh- showing you a lot of love as well, support?

    11. IT

      Yeah. Yeah. Everywhere I go, I get, I get love from the Brentford fans though. That's good, and that's key.

    12. SB

      What's your, uh... You're gonna get back, back to football.

    13. IT

      Mm-hmm.

    14. SB

      I know you've, you... I can feel you've got a certain fire inside you.

    15. IT

      Yep. I think. I just... Not that I need to prove anybody wrong, but there's, there's a lot of haters and doubters out there thinking, "He ain't gonna be the same man when he comes back." Actually, they're, they're right. I'm gonna be a different man and even better than that, that guy that scored them goals before, so.

    16. SB

      How do you know?

    17. IT

      'Cause mom- I'm built different. My mentality is different. I'm not one of these, "Oh, he could have been a great player, hadn't he done this." I'm, I'm, I'm gonna go beyond that. Uh, it's, like I said, not a point to prove, but a point to prove to myself.

    18. SB

      How do you ensure that happens? Like, what is it that y- 'Cause I think about controllables. What is it that you can control to make sure that you come back ev- an even better player? Is it just training harder? Is it... What is it that you're-

    19. IT

      Yeah. It's training harder. But in my head, uh, every time I step on a pitch, I'm, I'm thinking in my head, "I'm gonna score today. I'm gonna score. I know I'm gonna score. When the chance comes, I'm gonna score." 'Cause in a game, you, your bouns get a chance that you should be scoring. So in my head now I'm thinking, "Right. When I do play, and I do get that chance that I should be scoring, it has to be a goal." So it's gonna be a goal.

    20. SB

      What if it's not?

    21. IT

      Next one will be a goal.

    22. SB

      What if it's not?

    23. IT

      It will be. (laughs)

    24. SB

      (laughs)

    25. IT

      That'll be two goals.

  18. 1:18:38 – 1:25:59

    What’s Next for You?

    1. SB

      You know, I think Brentford is a fantastic team. I think of all the teams in the Premier League, if we talk about admiration, I'm, uh, really admire Bre-Brighton at the moment. But Brentford, I absolutely think are a brilliant, brilliant team. Really ton of admiration for them.

    2. IT

      Yes.

    3. SB

      Um, there's a lot of people that are obviously linking you to other clubs and saying, "Oh, is he gonna join this, Manchester United."

    4. IT

      (laughs)

    5. SB

      And all of that. How do you receive all of that? You know, all these links to... 'Cause everyone's looking for a striker. Strikers are like the hardest to find.

    6. IT

      Mm-hmm.

    7. SB

      Goal scorers in the Premier League. You got Haaland. You got Kane. He's gone. Now, now you're technically the second-best striker that's currently in the league.... on paper. So, you know, these big clubs are gonna come knocking. They're gonna say, you know, "Chelsea's got fucking unlimited money over here. United-

    8. IT

      That's-

    9. SB

      ... we need a striker."

    10. IT

      (laughs) No.

    11. SB

      How do you receive all of that?

    12. IT

      I mean, like, from a young age, like I said, I don't let this all affect me. Obviously, you hear it all going on in the background, but my job is just to keep training well when I get the chance, in the games, to keep scoring and doing well. But I think everybody wants to play at the top of the tree. And not that Brentford aren't there, but I feel like playing for a big club, fighting for trophies, and these kind of things everybody wants to do. And if the chance was to come along, uh, I think I'd be silly not to, uh, not to, uh, look more into it. But I feel like, yeah, and it, the manager knows that I wanna be playing at the highest pos- uh, level, level possible. And whenever that time comes, then so be it. But I can't... I think my, my time at Brentford's been, been, been, been good. It's been probably one of the best times in my career.

Episode duration: 1:46:34

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