Tom can be philosophical about not having had Sinclair’s career
Tom Taiwo believes he is living proof a footballer’s career path can take in plenty of unexpected diversions, yet still arrive at a favoured destination. The Hamilton Accies midfielder will be reunited with fellow former Chelsea Academy student, Scott Sinclair, when his side travel to Celtic Park this afternoon. And if his own journey has been more about the Scottish Championship than £8m transfers and appearances for the Great Britain Olympic side, Taiwo insists he couldn’t be happier. “Scott Sinclair was a little bit older than me at Chelsea, a fantastic talent who I remember as being just so quick,” he said. “He used to play as a striker when he first came in, scoring a shed-load of goals. “His move to Manchester City didn’t go to plan, but he has grasped the challenge at Celtic and done fantastically well up here, really ripping the league up. “Things have been a bit different for me for sure. “But with any opportunity, sometimes it works out and sometimes it doesn’t, for a number of reasons. “From where I’ve played my career since, you can tell I was never going to be a Chelsea player! “I wasn’t good enough, and as a result I have not achieved the things I dreamed of back when I was 14 or 15-years-old. “The players who were ahead of me
– Scott among the older ones and the likes of Victor Moses and Henri Lansbury who were in my group – have gone on to have better careers than me. “They used to play more than me in the England set-up, and they have gone on to achieve big things.” So the 28-year-old is honest and philosophical about his place in the game’s hierarchy. He says he has been that way right from the start. “You have to take your situation on the chin, come to terms with it, and look at making a career elsewhere and doing the thing that you love,” he said. “I think it is an attitude which comes from my parents. “Whenever I was playing my football as a youngster, their advice was: ‘Enjoy’ – but to also always think: ‘What if? So remember your schoolwork and be grounded’. “As much I love my football, I know there are more important things at times, and you have to be level-headed. “When things are going great, don’t get too high, and when things are going bad, it is never as bad as it seems. “It is the boys who think they are better than they are who slide right down the leagues and end up falling right out of the game. “So, as much as I would love to be playing at Celtic or at Chelsea, you have to deal with the challenges where you are now. “Just strive for the next achievable goal and go from there. “For me at Falkirk, it was getting into the Premiership. That was an achievable goal. “I didn’t quite make it with them, but thanks to Hamilton and the manager, Martin Canning, I have got here by different means, for which I am grateful.” So Taiwo is a man content with his lot. “I love it here in Scotland. I met my partner here and we are settled,” he said. “If you ask 99% of the population who love football, they’d want to be doing what I’m doing right now,” he said. “I’ve had a great career and experienced some fantastic occasions and big games that, really, when you’re starting out in football, you can only dream about. “At the age I’m at, maybe you’d say my potential has waned. “But Martin Canning has put faith in me. “He encourages me in the way I play the game – high intensity, try to win the ball back, have a never-say-die attitude and try to do the right things on and off the park. “Hopefully I can repay him through my performances.”