Gillingham striker Tom Eaves talks us through his football memories
First match? That takes me back. I know I went to some earlier than this, but I was too young to remember, so I’ll say my first memories are of having a season ticket in the Kop at Anfield in 2001. My mum’s family are Everton fans and my dad’s side are Liverpool, but I was always a Red. They won the treble that year and it was memorable. The game which sticks out the most is Gary McAllister scoring against Barcelona. It was crazy! First hero? That would be Robbie Fowler. He’s from Liverpool and played for the club, so there is an obvious reason, but he was also prolific. He was my favourite, but I also looked to Zinedine Zidane and also Ronaldo. They both won World Cups and were incredible. First boots? I used to get Puma Kings every season from the local JJB Sports shop. I had a new pair every season and battered them into the ground. It was the same every season – new shin pads and boots in August, and new studs at Christmas. First kit? It was a Liverpool one but I had loads as a kid. I had a Barcelona one every season and my dad would get me Real Madrid ones, too. I remember wearing a Dutch one, too, so I was pretty spoilt. I still have the shirt I wore when I was ten and played for a team called Barlows as my dad coached them. Since turning pro, I have swapped a shirt with Wayne Rooney after an FA Cup game (playing for Yeovil against Manchester United in 2014-15), which was cool. First game? I was at Oldham and we played Millwall at home (in January 2010). I did not know I was in the squad until the day before. I came on at half-time and I remember doing all right in it. I held it up a few times and created a few chances. I was getting a lot of abuse from Millwall fans as I was getting ready and remember thinking ‘this is it’. I made a few cameos that season and then you start to realise how much it actually means. First goal? My first was for Bristol Rovers against Northampton (in October 2012) and it was a really neat lob over the goalkeeper. I’d joined Bolton two summers before and was around the first team, but I needed to get game time. I went to Rovers and it was a nice feeling to score in my third game. I was very relaxed at the time, mainly because I was thinking about the game, rather than anything personal. I played in three divisions that season because I was in League Two with Rovers, League One with Shrewsbury and then the Championship with Bolton. It was a good year! First red card? My first red came earlier this season against Rochdale (Eaves was sent off for an alleged elbow on Joe Rafferty). Personally, I think I was unlucky! I did not touch him! It was a straight red and the referee said it was an accumulation of fouls, which confused me. It was very bizarre because I don’t consider myself a dirty player. I got a four-game ban because I got a yellow that day, too, and it was my fifth of the season.