Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
HARD OF GOLD
Phillips had a tough upbringing and, just like his hero Billy Bremner, takes no prisoners on the pitch, but off it he works tirelessly for his local community
KALVIN PHILLIPS is a hardman on the pitch – but has a heart of gold off it.
The 24-year-old epitomises the local lad made good story. Leeds born and bred, he used to go to Elland Road as a kid, and is proud to try to help his local community.
The Leeds United midfielder grew up as one of five siblings, in a household where his mum did two jobs to keep the family going, while he would babysit his younger brother and sisters.
Now Phillips enjoys giving something back. He was chosen as Leeds’ Community Player of the Year for a third year running, has made more appearances than any other player, and has formed a close bond with six-year-old Leeds fan Sarah Emmott, who has a rare kidney disease.
He is a shining example for the
Football League’s
Day of Action next Tuesday to show the positive influence the game can have on society. It all stems from his own upbringing, which is also pushing him to the top. Phillips said: “I’m from Leeds, so it’s a big part of me, and I like getting to know people, find out about them, see different backgrounds, and where they’ve come from. Sometimes, the struggles relate to my own struggles. “The props of being a Leeds player in my own home city is good and the rewards in football are very good. So, it helps me to look after my family, and they are the reasons why I carried on pushing, to help my family. “I didn’t have much, but my mum and grandma gave me as much as they could. We weren’t a rich family and had to work hard for what we got. But I think you can make a difference to people and I enjoy doing that.” Phillips is grounded and is catching the eye as a future England player – which provokes a huge grin when it is mentioned – but his only target now is to get Leeds promoted. That goal takes another step today, with Huddersfield visiting Elland Road, and Phillips, more than most, knows what it would mean to the fans.
He has made a name for himself under Marcelo Bielsa – who he jokingly calls “grandad” for his caring but stern manner – as a holding midfielder, and relishes the idea of becoming the modern-day Billy Bremner, because he reckons football has gone soft.
“Billy Bremner was a big part of the Leeds team that did so well and I know I’m a big part of this team and so I relate to that,” he said.
“But position-wise, I also relate to him. He used to go out and they’d sing a song about him playing until he was black and blue.
“I always think of that when I think I’m struggling because, if Bremner can get through it, then why can’t I? If you want to be remembered for a long time, then you have to do these sorts of things. He was a tough little player, and I try to be like that as well.
“You get people rolling around after tackles and I think the game has gone a little bit soft. But it’s part of the game and you have to protect players.”
Phillips (above meeting fans at Elland Road) admits Bielsa has worked him hard. He lost nearly a stone after the legendary coach’s arrival thanks to diet and tough training regimes. But he insists they are in better shape this year to go up after falling short last May.
He added: “He taught us that to be good players you have to be good athletes as well. For me, the diet has been difficult, because I’d go out and eat Sunday dinners every week.
“It was very difficult, but it’s something you have to do if you want to reach the top. Looking back, I think we’re a better team now, just because of the experience of going through what we did last year – doing so well and then falling off towards the end.
“We know it can’t happen again and that this club needs to get back to the Premier League.
“I think we’re stronger mentally. The manager is always on at us about mental strength anyway. He just comes in and stresses how important it is to be strong mentally.
“To succeed you’ve got to go through pain, both mentally and physically.”