Bristol Rovers striker Brett Pitman talks us through his football memories
First game you watched live?
Southampton against Everton. Actually, no – that was the second one. The first one I watched was Wimbledon against Aston Villa in the Premier League.
I played for Jersey schoolboys and we went to the game during some kind of tour to England. I don’t think it was Plough Lane – it must have been when they were playing at Selhurst Park.
It was the late
90s some time. The only thing I can really remember is that Marcus Gayle played.
First football hero?
I loved David Beckham when I was a kid. Growing up in Jersey, you got people supporting all sorts of different teams.
I was a Manchester United fan because my dad supported them, and Beckham was their biggest player at the time.
It wasn’t any one thing in particular. He was a great player, scored some spectacular goals. He always wore the best clothes. It was a little bit of everything really.
First football boots?
This is a tough one. I can’t say for sure but they would definitely have been Adidas I’m going to guess World Cups. Black and white, no frills. Great boots though.
First kit?
Definitely a Man United one. I had a few down the years but the first one I can really remember was the yellow and green away strip with the black shorts and the lace up collar.
It was the era of Ryan Giggs, Lee Sharpe, Paul Ince. Eric Cantona was wearing it when he scored that amazing volley against Wimbledon, and I must have worn it until the sponsors fell off.
First professional game?
For Bournemouth away to Torquay in the League Cup in August 2005. It was either the first or second round and we went through on penalties after a 0-0 draw.
Sean O’Driscoll was my manager and he’d told me I was going to be travelling down with the team. I wasn’t sure whether I’d be starting, on the bench or just there to make up the numbers but I ended up coming on for the second half of extra-time.
I played the last six or seven minutes, then scored my penalty in the shoot-out. Sean was really good with young kids, always giving us opportunities.
First professional goal?
Against Blackpool in the league. It was a bit of a scramble in the box and I got my head on a loose ball. Your first goal is always a big moment, and that certainly was for me. Especially because we ended up winning 1-0. I’d only played two or three games at that stage so it really let me play with a bit of freedom after that.
First red card?
Away to Blyth Spartans in the FA Cup in 2008. We’d drawn the first game at our place and ended up getting beat 1-0 up there. I came on as a sub and pretty much the first thing I did was try to close a fullback down. I kind of lunged to block his forward pass, caught him a bit late and the ref sent me off. It was definitely a bit harsh – I’d only been on the pitch three minutes!