Guest Series: Jimmy meets...….

The second instalment of this series sees Jimmy Langton finding out the thoughts and views from former Rock and now Hungerford Town defender Joe Tomlinson:

JL: Which clubs have you felt at home at?

JT: I’ve played at a few clubs in my career now and I am grateful to all of them for different reasons, however the way that the Bognor fans welcomed me in and supported me throughout the season will stick with me forever and is something I will never forget.

JL: Who’s the best manager you have played for and why?

JT: I have played under a few good managers in my career, but I will always remember Jack Pearce and Robbie Blake at Bognor for giving me my first taste of first team football and to Ian Herring at Hungerford for putting his trust in me at a young age.

JL: Are there any role models you look up to and why?

JT: I will always look up to Cristiano Ronaldo the most for what he has achieved in his career and for the hard work that he has done to get to where he is.

JL: What was the reason for coming to Bognor Regis Town?

JT: I joined Bognor on loan because I wanted to get some experience at first team level. Brighton then let me know of their interest; I’d heard great things about the club and I wanted to join straight away.

JL; Did you have any trials at any higher league clubs?

JT: After I was released from Yeovil Town in 2018 I went on trial at Brighton and Hove Albion and I was fortunate enough to sign for them on a 1 year contract.

JL: What’s your favourite football club?

JT: My favourite club is Manchester United and they will always be the team I dream to play for, however I will always have a soft spot for Southampton FC for the time I spent at the club.

JL: Which coach do you feel you have benefited from most in your career?

JT: There are two coaches that I feel I have benefited most from: Antonio Falanga, my youth team coach at Yeovil Town and Graeme Murty, one of my coaches at Southampton Academy.

JL: What’s your favourite colour?

JT: My colour has to be the red of Manchester United.

JL: Who is the best player you have played against?

JT: I have played against a lot of players who have already done well in my career including Reece James, Reiss Nelson and Rhian Brewster, however Callum Hudson-Odoi is the best player I have played against.

JL: Do you intend to go into coaching when you have retired from playing?

JT: It’s not something I have thought about enough yet, I have a Level 2 coaching badge so it is a possibility in the future when my career is over.

JL: What made you choose a career in football?

JT: I have always had a love for football because I enjoy playing it and I enjoy watching it so it was only a matter of time before my parents were going to sign me up to a local side.

JL: Who’s the best player you have played with and why?

JT: The best player I have played with is Will Smallbone. We played together at Southampton and this season he has made his Premier League debut for the club and scored his first senior goal. I have also trained with the first team at Brighton and the best player I trained with there would have to be Davy Propper.

JL: Why did you choose to be a defender?

JT: Initially, I was a winger for my local side but when I joined Southampton Academy, at the age of 7, they moved me to the back to help improve my understanding of the game as everything is in front of me and I can see and build from the back.

JL: Did you have a choice of not playing against Bognor for Brighton in the Sussex Senior Cup last season?

JT: I didn’t have a choice, no. Obviously it was a difficult game for me to play in as I was up against players and fans who I’d played with and for all season. Bognor played really well in the game and they deserved to win but it was really nice the way the Bognor fans treated me throughout the match.

JL: How did the opportunity arise for signing for Hungerford Town?

JT: The Gaffer at Hungerford knew my brother and he spoke to him to see if I had signed anywhere. Then I went to training in pre-season and then from there they offered a contract and decided to join.

My life goal is to sign a professional contract again for a league side and work my way up to the Premier League. I’m going to do everything I can to try and make it happen.