MATT BADCOCK
Bromley’s Blair Turgott is used to the big stage, now he’s back in the spotlight with England C
THERE can’t be many footballers who have their own profile on the online film bible Internet Movie Database – Blair Turgott does. It reads: Blair Turgott is an actor, known for Green Street (2005). Now, anyone who has seen the flick in question will know Lord of the Rings star Elijah Wood is an American journalist turned West Ham hooligan. So, what on earth is the Bromley and England C winger doing in it? “It was crazy,” says the former Hammer. “I don’t even know how it came about. I was at West Ham and our manager came in and said there’s a film our team had to be in. “At the time we didn’t know what it was about. We went to this school to film and Frodo came over! We basically played a game and they recorded it. “We had another scene in a classroom. In the film they were drawn against Millwall in the cup and we had to cheer. It was rated 18 and I was only nine or ten, but I really wanted to watch it. A few of my goals were in there – it was alright. “It was a great experience, but crazy. People have told me I’m down as an actor – maybe it could be something to look into after football!” He’s well used to mixing with the stars is young Blair. On his twitter account is a picture with football megastar Lionel Messi from when Argentina trained at West Ham ahead of a friendly with Croatia at Upton Park in 2014. With the West Ham first team enjoying a week off on the international break, the youngsters were drafted in to train with Sergio Aguero, Angel Di Maria and the main man himself. “We didn’t really touch the ball that much because it was all about them – it was shadow work, but it’s one to tell the grandkids about,” Turgott smiles. But the main story he wants to tell his descendants is about his football career. Turgott made one appearance for West Ham – in the infamous 5-0 FA Cup defeat to Nottingham Forest – with most of his first team action coming on loan. He was at Bradford City for their incredible League Cup run where they beat Arsenal and Aston Villa on the way to the final at Wembley.
Knock-backs
Spells at Coventry City and, last season, at Leyton Orient followed before the 22-year-old dropped into Non-League with National League Bromley in the summer. “There were League One and League Two teams I could have gone to on trial in the summer, but it was about getting security and going somewhere I can show what I’m about,” he says, perched on the end of his bed in England C’s Tallinn hotel. “Hopefully it’s taking one step back to go two steps forward. That’s the aim. I’ve been on loan at clubs and I’m quite experienced for my age – I’ve played games. For me it’s about getting a run of games. Bromley have given me that opportunity. Hopefully I can repay them with my performances.” Already his electric performances have caught the eye of England C boss Paul Fairclough, who immediately picked him from the contingency squad for the Estonia trip after drop outs. It’s not the first time he’s pulled on the Three Lions. As a youngster he represented his country through the age groups from U16s up to U19s alongside Raheem Sterling, Nathaniel Chalobah and Jordan Pickford. He went to the U17 World Cup in Mexico and scored for the U19s in the same stadium England C beat Estonia U23s 2-1 on Tuesday night. His latest call of international duty, alongside other players who have slipped down the leagues, can give him the confidence to rise again. “The gaffer said a lot of us have had knock-backs,” he says. “We’re all here for different reasons. But the common factor is we’ve all played at a decent level. So we all know where we want to be. “Everyone’s journey is different. A lot of the boys have been released, had injuries and setbacks for different reasons. For me it’s about trusting the journey. “You’ve got to stay strong mentally and just have confidence in yourself to make it.”