Eldershaw Keen to Learn
Promising striker Simon Eldershaw has a chat about life at Vale Park, his hopes for the future and his best moments on the pitch.
I heard you are a Vale fan? Is that true? What’s your favourite memory as a Vale fan?
Yes I am, we used to get free tickets for the matches as part of the school of excellence. My favourite memory is probably of the game against Arsenal where we lost on penalties.
And what’s been your best moment on the pitch?
Making my home debut against Wigan on Boxing day.
You’ve come through Vale juniors. How long have you been with the Valiants and how did you come to join the club?
I started at the School of Excellence when I was 7 and I was asked by Jim Cooper to go to training after he saw me playing for my Blutton ‘lads and dads’ team.
Who has had the biggest influence on your career?
My parents have taxied me around for years and have hardly ever missed a game. There’s also my friends who have had to put up with playing footie with me ALL the time and my girlfriend is very supportive and likes to watch me play.
How do you think the Valiants will fare this season?
I think a good start is essential for a good season. If we keep our top players free from injury and we get a confident start we will have a very productive season.
As a striker do you have any crazy goal celebrations lined up for when you score your first senior goal?
Not really, it depends on how good the goal is. If it’s a goal that just hits me and trickles in I can’t really rip my shirt off and do a ‘Klinsmann dive’! But I will secretly want to though!
Which striker in world football do you most admire and which striker do you think (in style) you most resemble?
I love to watch all great strikers but my favourite at the moment is Real Madrid’s Raul. He is so clever and sees things and does things others can’t even imagine. I’m not really sure who I play like. I try to watch the players around me and learn off them. Players like Steve Brooker, Steve McPhee and Adrian Littlejohn have played far more games than I have, so I have to learn from them.
What are your career ambitions? Where do you see yourself in five years time?
My initial ambition is to play as many games as possible this season to earn myself a longer contract with the club. I don’t like to look too far ahead, but I hope I am still doing interviews with onevalefan.co.uk in five years time!
Do you visit onevalefan.co.uk – what are your thoughts on the website?
It is always good to see a fans-run website dedicated to the club they love.
Finally, do you have any message for the Vale fans around the world reading this interview?
Just to keep supporting the Vale and stick by us as we will come good.
onevalefan would like to thank Simon for taking the time to answer our questions and we wish him all the best at the Valiants. onevalefan will be making a donation to charity in return for Simon’s interview.