Football firsts
Colchester United winger Luke Hannant talks us through his football memories
First game you watched live?
All my family are Norwich fans. My nan, grandad, uncle and myself all had season tickets at Carrow Road. Before I started playing football on a Saturday, we went to all the games at home so this would have definitely been a Norwich game, at the age of seven or eight years old. The first I remember was a 1-0 win over Gillingham. I was also a ball-boy for a couple of seasons when I was at the academy, so got to watch all the games for free. My nan is still going now in her late 70s as well!
First football hero?
I have always been a Liverpool fan as well, and growing up that was primarily because of Steven Gerrard. He was my first hero and icon in football. I watched him all the time and just wanted to be like him. I would always try and get the boots he had and try and play like him if I could. Gerrard, along with my grandad, are my two biggest influences in football.
First football boots?
As a young player I always had Adidas boots and only turned to Nike as I’ve got older. As I was influenced by Gerrard, naturally I had a lot of red Adidas predators. But I can remember a pair of all-blue Lotto boots that Francesco Totti used to wear. I was around seven years old and I think they would have been my first proper pair. They used to weigh quite a lot, not ideal for a kid playing on a Sunday morning, but they looked great!
First kit?
The first I got as a present was a Liverpool shirt. My dad was the Liverpool fan, and I remember having the classic Carlsberg one that they wore in the season they won the treble. That was a really memorable one but I also had quite of lot of Norwich kits from the rest of my family.
First professional game?
This was for Gateshead in the National League. I played against Barrow at home. We won 4-1, and I scored on my debut so it wasn’t a bad way to start. My first pro game was for Port Vale against Accrington in Jan 2018.
First professional goal?
My first EFL goal was for Port Vale in 2018. I signed in the January and my first goal came six weeks later. It was against Stevenage at Vale Park, but the main thing I remember is the conditions. The first half was played on a carpet, perfect green grass and in the second half a snow blizzard hit. We had to go off every ten minutes so they could clear snow off the pitch. It was really bad. We were 2-0 down, then I got the assist for the first, before scoring in the 77th minute to equalise. But I could barely see the ball hit the net. I did a 30-yard knee slide in the snow afterwards! It finished 2-2 so it was a great feeling.
First red card?
I’ve never been sent off in senior football, thankfully. To be fair, I’m not sure how. Players who know me know that I’ve got a bit of a short fuse. But as I’ve got older, I’ve just learnt to step away.