football firsts Kwesi Appiah – The AFC Wimbledon striker talks us through his football memories
First game you watched live? It was at Highbury because I’m an Arsenal fan and it was against Manchester United in 2000. I remember it because (Thierry) Henry flicked the ball up and kicked it over the keeper (Fabien Barthez). It was one of his iconic goals and I remember sitting behind that goal when it went in. That was one of the first games I remember well. It was a huge match and, after that, I was hooked on Arsenal. Footballing hero? My first hero would be the Brazilian Ronaldo, but close second and third are Ian Wright and Thierry Henry for the Arsenal connections. Ronaldo was my guy when I was younger. I even had that famous haircut he had with peak and the little triangle at the front. I had the famous boots he wore at the World Cup in 1998 – they were blue and silver. Recently, they re-released them this summer and I got a pair of those as well. First game? My first senior game was at Ebbsfleet in the Conference. I came through there as a kid. I came off the bench for my debut in 2008 against Rushden. That was my first professional game but my first in the Football League was making my debut for Crystal Palace in 2012 against Coventry at the Ricoh Arena. I have fond memories of both and just being buzzing. The Football League debut is a big moment in any footballer’s career and for a club (Palace) I hold close to my heart. I still have the shirt framed in my house. That will live with me in my memory forever. First kit? I remember this clearly because it was a gold Arsenal kit. I think it was the 2001-02 season. It had Sega on the front of it and through the years it deteriorated. The Sega logo was peeling off but it was a brilliant shirt – I loved it. First boots? I can’t remember my first pair of boots but the first pair which stands out are those Ronaldo R9 Nike boots he wore at the World Cup. They’re blue and silver with a yellow tick. In terms of my first actual boots, I can’t really remember because I was only four or five-years-old... First goal? For Ebbsfleet, it was in my second game against Woking when I came off the bench again but my first Football League goal was in 2014 - it was a header for AFC Wimbledon against Newport. First red card? I’ve never had a red card and hopefully that will remain the same and it will never happen to me. In my position, you shouldn’t really be there flying into tackles uncontrollably. The majority of your game isn’t focused on defending and doing crazy tackles. There could be a wild moment where you lose your head and you end up punching or kicking someone but, otherwise, I’m not sure you should be getting a red card if you’re up front!