Bradford City midfielder Romain Vincelot talks us through his football memories
First game It was back in my home town in France, a place called Niort. It’s actually where I started playing as a professional as well. I started watching the local club, called Chamois Niortais, when I was about six. Sadly, I cannot remember who they played when I first went to watch them. It feels like it was a long time ago! I remember I was just so excited because this was the first time I had been to see professional footballers play. Overall, the experience of seeing a live match when I was a kid was fantastic. I was very impressed as well by the skill and quality of the players. First hero? I have to admit I really liked Eric Cantona. I think it’s because he played for some clubs I liked in France, like Marseille. His character was amazing too. When he went to England, there was obviously a lot of controversy about him but that was also partly why I was so interested in him. The most famous thing about when him when he played in England was that kung-fu kick at Crystal Palace. That was in the news a lot in France at the time. It had a lot of attention. I didn’t get to watch too many of his games in England because it wasn’t that easy at the time to view them in France. At the time, you only had a few games shown from abroad. First boots? I think they were a pair of Patricks. In truth, they weren’t the prettiest, but someone gave them to me when I was about five years old and I was just happy to play in anything. I’m sure, at the time, I found them very nice. I was just happy to be able to play football, so I have good memories with them. First match? It was actually for my home town team, Chamois Niortais, against Chateauroux. It was a Ligue 2 match – the French version of the Championship – in January 2005. It was a very special moment. Admittedly, I was pretty nervous, of course, before the game, but in the end I was just happy because I was voted as the man of the match. At the time, I just thought ‘that’s it, my first step’ so I remember thinking afterwards it was just the start of the journey. Unfortunately, we lost what was a tight game 1-0. First goal? That actually came the following season. I think I scored my first goal against a team called Pau and it wasn’t the prettiest, to be honest. The ball just dropped for me following a corner and I pretty much tackled it over the line – it was special to me. There was a flick and the goalkeeper saved it, then I just had to be in the right place at the right time to put it in. It wasn’t pretty, but that didn’t stop me from enjoying it very much, though. First red card? I think it came in a match in 2005. It came against a team called Bayonne and it was for two yellow cards, so it was down to me putting in too many challenges, I guess. Sadly, for me, I was back in the dressing room by halftime because both cards came in the first half. It was unfortunate. Let’s just say it happened because I was a young man then. I didn’t really think before putting myself into challenges at that point.