Once upon a time there was a Leixlip boy who was on the cusp of a deal with European champions Inter Milan
SAN SIRO FAIRYTALE DIDN’T HAPPEN FOR COLTON BUT BUT HE’S SCRIPTED A HAPPY EVER AFTER
GAVIN COLTON has learned a thing or two about storytelling in recent years.
The EX-UCD defender is currently studying for a master’s degree in creative writing at the University of Kentucky in the US.
But even a budding writer like Colton would have struggled to script his whirlwind Inter Milan journey 10 years ago, when the Leixlip man competed on Football’s Next Star – a reality TV show that gave teenagers the chance to earn a contract at the San Siro.
Colton suffered a broken arm during the series, recovered to make the final five, and rubbed shoulders with the likes of Jose Mourinho and Luis Figo.
“It was just after they won the Champions League and we had this chance,” he recalled.
“At the time, you don’t even know what you’re in. I realise more and more the older I get what a unique experience it was.
“The sort of people I got to meet, heroes really. I remember I had the cleanest room where all of our beds were and the prize for that was dinner with Luis Figo. When on earth would I have ever gotten the chance to have dinner with Luis Figo?”
Meeting Mourinho was a particular highlight for Colton and he grabbed a rare chance to impress the Portuguese boss with both hands.
He added: “He’s everything you’d think he was, although he was actually much nicer in person, I found.
“The first time we went to go and watch the first team train, I didn’t know if we’d be coming back so I brought my boots with me. All of the lads were throwing on their best gear and I had a pair of Umbros and a full training kit in my bag.
“I met one of the assistants and I don’t know who he was or how good his English was, but I just held up my boots and said, ‘I’m ready to go’.
“I saw him go over to Mourinho and about 10 minutes later I get a whistle, the first thing we’re doing is one-on-ones and I’m against Sammy Eto’o.
“I was gutted, you just get absolutely roasted, but what an experience.”
Colton returned home to play for UCD (below) after coming close to earning a deal with the Italian giants.
He made his senior League of Ireland debut aged just 17 but swapped domestic football for a soccer scholarship at Northern Kentucky University.
Colton discovered a passion for writing after moving to the States and is now authoring two works of fiction while coaching with his college’s women’s football team. “The scholarship was a bit random,” he recalled. “I’d never been to America before and I was just finishing up with UCD under-19s.
“I hated school but halfway through college I realised you’re able to follow your passions and storytelling is mine.
“I’m actually working on two books of fiction at the moment, a collection of short stories and a novel.”
Colton feels reality TV often paints contestants in a negative light but took nothing but positives from it.
He said: “I’m grateful for the bits they did show and the bits they didn’t.
“I was one of the youngest ones, broke my arm and so it was probably hard to spin in a bad way. It was just a cracking experience.”
EOIN DOYLE is close to signing for Bolton Wanderers on a three-year deal – with Ipswich Town losing out on League Two’s top scorer for the second time. Ipswich attempted to sign the Dubliner in 2011, when he decided to move from Sligo Rovers to Hibernian instead.
Doyle (left), 32, was in another rich vein of form in last season’s League Two campaign for Swindon Town with 25 goals – scoring in 12 games in a row to match Jamie Vardy’s record he set in 2015.
However after helping Richie Wellens’ side gain promotion to League One, Doyle – who has scored 118 goals cross-channel from 333 appearances – turned down two offers of a new contract to stay at the Robins.
NEWCASTLE UNITED
When on earth would I have ever gotten the chance to sit down & have dinner with Luis Figo?