Leyton Orient coach Matt Harrold talks us through his football memories
First game you watched live?
My first game was watching Arsenal at Highbury – I think against Sunderland, or it might have been Sheffield United.
I can’t recall much from it, but I do remember Ian Wright giving a midfielder – it might have been Ian Selley – the biggest talking to I had ever seen in my life for a stray through ball. That was a bit of an eye-opener! It was a pretty dire game, from memory – 0-0 or 1-0 to Arsenal.
I was an Arsenal fan growing up and when we could get tickets, I would sit with my Grandad in the family enclosure. My dad is a Spurs fan, so North London derbies were always big occasions in our house!
First football hero?
This is a bit of a strange one as an Arsenal fan, but I loved Paul
Gascoigne when he was at Spurs.
My love for Gazza continued when he went over to play for Lazio, then for Rangers – he had a great personality and was a brilliant player.
At Arsenal, though, I loved Ian Wright – even after he had a go at that midfielder!
First football boots?
I had a pair of Puma Kings – the old ones with a tongue the size of a car boot! My favourites were a pair of Nike Tiempo Premiers, which they still bring out now.
First kit?
It would have been Arsenal… the main one I remember is a blue away shirt with chevrons on it in the mid-90s, just after
Nike took over from
Adidas in making them. I had the home and away kits that year - I remember my old man bringing them home and I was chuffed to bits.
First professional game?
I remember that one well! My debut was for Brentford on a Tuesday night away at Colchester, early in the 2003-04 season. I had played NonLeague football after leaving West Ham, and I remember being on the phone after the game saying ‘worst case scenario, I’ve made a Football League appearance’. Fortunately, I went on to make quite a few more!
I grew up in East London so I didn’t know too much about Brentford, but they have a good following and those were great days.
First professional goal?
That was the first in a ‘perfect hat-trick’ for Brentford against Gainsborough Trinity in the FA Cup (in November 2003). It was goalless until close to half-time, but I scored a decent goal with my right foot to open my professional account.
After the break, I scored a header and then one with my left. I’ve still got the match ball somewhere, signed by the team, and we ended up winning 7-1. It was a great day.
My first Football League goal was later that season against Colchester. I followed in a back pass and slotted into an empty net for the winner – happy days!
First red card?
That came for Southend against Yeovil, one of my former clubs, for two bookings. I broke my nose in that game as well, so played most of the game with a big bandage round my face as well as getting sent off late on. I thought I played alright that day… but it doesn’t sound like it looking back and it’s probably one to try to forget!