BIRTHDAY BOY BARHAM NETS THE
JACK BARHAM received a present he didn’t expect for his 28th birthday – a maiden England C call-up.
The striker has been rewarded for a fine season leading Aldershot Town’s front line by being drafted into Paul Fairclough’s Three Lions squad for the Bank Holiday clash with Nepal tomorrow.
And with the game taking place on home territory at the Shots’ EBB Stadium, the fordo mer Maidstone United front man is relishing the opportunity of living out his boyhood dream in front of his own fans.
“Putting that shirt on is every player’s dream when growing up,” Barham, who has been called up alongside fellow Shots Ollie Harfield and Tyler Frost, told The NLP.
“Opportunities like this don’t come around very often so when they come up you have to grab them with both hands.
“I knew some of the boys had been called up because we had an end-of-season meeting that week, but then I got a phone call on Friday. I couldn’t believe it really. It’s something I never expected but I have worked so hard to get an opportunity like this. I feel like all my hard work is paying off.”
Barham’s 14 goals helped the Shots become the surprise package of the National League this season as Tommy Widdrington’s men just missed out on a play-off place, while also reaching the third round of the FA Cup.
“It epitomises how well we have done as a team,” Barham adds.
“If you’d have said at the start of the season that we would finish in the top ten then people would have said ‘no chance’. We’ve had a really good season and it’s great to see the individuals get the accolades they deserve. We’re all cherishing the moment and we’re all really going to enjoy it.”
While the England C experience will be new to Barham, the surroundings certainly won’t, and the front man believes playing on home soil will help bring out the best in him against a Nepal side who remain an unknown quantity.
“Everyone I know who has played for England C speaks very highly of the coaching staff and the whole setup,” Barham adds.
“It makes it easier to have two of my teammates there to share the experience and help me settle in, but it’s a chance to play alongside players who are doing really well and I’m looking forward to meeting players from other teams, too.
“The girls in the ticket office at Aldershot tell me that a lot of tickets have been sold, which is good. It should be a really good occasion.
“We are a new team thrown together and we don’t know who we are going to be playing against so we’ll just go out there and give it our best shot.
“For me, personally, it’s a dream to play for England and if I can do well, maybe get a goal, then who knows where it can take me.”