football firsts
Aaron Downes – the former Cheltenham, Chesterfield and Torquay defender talks us through his football memories
First match?
Growing up in Australia, people didn’t really go to football matches – it was either rugby league or cricket. I came to the UK as a 15-year-old and the first match I went to was West Ham v Manchester United in 2002 when I was trialling at the Hammers.
Man Utd won 5-3 but it was a brilliant experience for me at Upton Park. It really re-affirmed my love for the sport, and it was quite inspiring for me to witness the game and hear the noise of 35,000 fans for the first time.
First hero?
I grew up as a Leeds fan because that’s where my father’s from. I was quite lucky that when I was growing up they had a few Australian players in their team, such as Mark Viduka and Harry Kewell.
But Rio Ferdinand was someone who was coming through at Leeds at the time I was really getting into football, and he’s someone I looked up to as a defender.
First kit?
We had some family in Leeds, and I had a couple of shirts sent over when I was quite young. I had the home shirt with Packard Bell on it and the away shirt with yellow and blue quarters.
I wore them to every training session until they had holes and was proud of them. Everyone knew about Leeds because of their Australian players, so I didn’t cop too much stick.
First boots?
I had a pair of black Lotto Stadios with the fluorescent green logo in the middle. They were quite a classic design and I wore black boots for most of my career after that.
My parents bought them for me when I was five. I don’t have them anymore, but I wish I’d kept them.
First game?
That was for Chesterfield against MK Dons in September 2004 and we drew 2-2. I came on in the first half and scored. I remember the game quite clearly – you never forget your debut. I’d only signed in the July and I’d not been that involved up to that point, but Steve Blatherwick got injured, which meant I got a chance.
I’d played a lot of pre-season games, so I was confident and excited to get the chance, and to go on and score made it a great start to my pro career.
First goal?
It was great to score on my debut because not many players do that. I just remember peeling to the far post at a corner and heading it in.
The only way I was ever going to score was from a corner or a set play and I managed to make a nuisance of myself and nod it in.
I scored two goals in my first four games. I got one away at Peterborough in December 2004 as well as an assist, so I was pretty pleased with how I started.
First red card?
It wasn’t until 2012 for Torquay against Rochdale.
I’d scored in the game and luckily the sending off didn’t cost us and we won 4-2.
I’d gone eight or nine years at Chesterfield without a red card and then got sent off in my third league game for Torquay. Luckily it didn’t damage my relationship with the club too much because I work there now!