SUNDAY MUDDY SUNDAY
The secret of success for West Ham’s brilliant Czech star Tomas.. doing his pre-season training alone at the EastEnders spiritual home.. Hackney Marshes
TOMAS SOUCEK used to go running in the forest – and this year he has been keeping himself fit on Hackney Marshes.
It has been a long journey to the Premier League, but West Ham’s Czech midfielder has wasted no time making an impression on English football.
Soucek, 25, has gained a reputation for his energy – he covered a remarkable 13.1km in a single game (more than any West Ham player for six years) at Manchester City last season.
It comes from his sporting family, dad Frantisek and, in particular, mum Iva.
He said: “My mother gave me her ability, probably because she used to play handball when she was younger. But, for the last 15 years, she has been running half-marathons and marathons.
“Sometimes, when I was younger, I went with her to run in the forest. I think she won the Prague marathon in her age group.
“My big inspiration was my family. My dad took me to my first football training because he was the coach. He used to play as a goalkeeper and my whole family was a sporting family.”
Soucek was born in the town of Havlickuv Brod, started his career at Slavia Prague, was a revelation after joining West
Ham on loan in January, played a major part in keeping them up, and then signed permanently in the summer.
He said: “My journey was very hard, as I loved football and I played football in a small city of around 10,000 people.
“My childhood was very hard. My mum and dad would be working, and they would take me to Prague on different days, so I could become a footballer.
“They are the best support that I could have.”
During lockdown, Soucek found it hard to sit still and took himself down to east London’s
spiritual home of o football where, where together with wife Natalie and a ball and some cones, he trained at Hackney Marshes with their young daughter Tereza looking on.
“I heard all about the tradition for playing Sunday League football there, though there was nothing like that during these times,” said Soucek.
“I checked it was OK to train there and, at that time, there were only a few five- a- side teams using it. I did normal
SOU TALENTED
Soucek as a boy with parents, a budding star and celebrating the Czech title with his wife and daughter training, but individually. My wife was sometimes giving me the ball and helped me enjoy it.
“There’s about 50 pitches there. It was incredible.”
It has been something of a topsy-turvy start to the season for West Ham.
A bad beginning despite some good performances, and yet wins over Wolves and Leicester showed they are on the right track, before the comeback from 3-0 down at Tottenham proved their new spirit under David Moyes.
Soucek said: “Maybe the big change was after lockdown. We were very down in the table and when we beat Chelsea last season we improved in the squad. When we had pre-season, we talked, saying we are a strong team and that we want to fight with everyone.
“It was di f ficult at Tottenham with 10 minutes to go, losing by three goals, and we showed our spirit.”
Soucek still enjoys collecting shirts for his wall back home in the Czech Republic.
He grew up idolising Pavel Nedved and Tomas Rosicky, got Harry Kane’s shirt when the Czech Republic beat England last year, and claimed Heung- Min Son’s shirt last Sunday.
Soucek added: “I am playing against top players and want to change shirts, but also I want to be better than they are.
“I am a Premier League player, but I’m still a big fan of the Premier League as well.
“I like to change shirts and, in time, have a small museum at my parents’ house.”