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How does that make you feel?
Sometimes it’s tough, but everything happens for a
reason. Now, having my own kids, I make sure I give
them that love from the father figure that I didn’t
have. And I think that’s probably helped me feel better
as well.
Do you think if he hadn’t been murdered, you might never
have left Jamaica?
Yeah, probably. I think that was a massive issue and
that was like a door to open to say, “OK. Let’s try
something new.”
What was behind the killing?
My mum hasn’t really spoken to me about it, to be
honest. She just told me he was at a party and shots
were fired and... Yeah.
Your mother came over first?
Yeah. My mum came over first. I think my sister came
up three months after and then I came probably a year
and a bit after. I think I was about five.
What were your first impressions of England?
Cold. I remember having a massive jacket on. I see the
pictures now with my auntie, who came over with me.
I think that was like the worst day of her life, our life,
because it was a completely different place. We were
used to 20°C, 29°C, 30°C and it was around Christmas,
so it was really, really cold. At first it was tough. You
know, school was different. I kind of got away with
more in school here, but when I was in Jamaica it was
zero tolerance. Belts. I think the government over
there has brought that down now, but there were times
it was brutal.
When you’re playing at Wembley, it must be kind of weird
when the bus is taking you there. Because that’s your
childhood, isn’t it?
Yeah, every time I go now it’s like it doesn’t feel real. I
can’t remember what game it was, but we were driving
with the England team and I just saw one of my friends
going into his house and I called him and said, “Hello,
I’ve just seen you,” and he was like, “Oh, that was you
guys that just went, was it?”
Have you stayed close to the people you grew up with?
My five best mates are friends from my former class, all
the way from Year Seven.
Do you think not having known your father has made you a
different sort of parent?
Yeah. I think so.Do you think the friendships that you form with teammates
are real? These guys you play with now, how many do you
reckon you will still be in touch with in 20 years’ time?
To be honest, probably three or four. And I don’t think
it’s stay in contact as in seeing them every summer or
something. It’s probably once in a while: “How are you
doing?” It’s hard to get close with your teammates.Is that because although you’re a team there is also an
element of competition to it?
Not competition, but we all do the same thing and I like
to be around my friends that are normal guys. The one
thing I can’t take is the ego. I like people that are just
chilled. I’m not saying every player is, but everyone has
their little diva moment.When did you first know that you were going to be a very,
very, very good footballer?
Probably when I was at QPR, always playing years
above. At QPR I was maybe 14 playing under-18s.Was it your mother that got you to go to QPR rather than the
bigger clubs?
Yeah, my mum, just purely looking out for me.But you could’ve gone to Arsenal?
Yeah, I could have gone to Arsenal a couple of times,
but it just hasn’t happened. I think she was thinking
if I go there and then they don’t like me I might get
disheartened. So I think she was looking out for me,
saying it’s good to keep you around and if they do like
you they will come back for you.And how old were you when you went to Liverpool?
Fifteen. Yeah. That was unbelievable.Because?
Because that was a big moment for me. I remember
just going to QPR one day and they said, “You can’t play
today.” And I said, “Why?” And they said, “You’re going
up to Liverpool tomorrow.” I said, “Oh, OK.” I had to go to
school the next day and I was like, “Guys, I’m sorry. I’m
going to Liverpool. So I’m going to have to love you and
leave you lot.” So that was kind of sick.What was it like settling in at Liverpool?
I loved it. I loved it. [I lived in] an old-fashioned, lovely
house. My house parents looked after me and treated me
so well. The club put me in a lovely school. School every
day, training, back home. I loved it.And then coming to City, are you a badge kisser?
I’m not.You don’t kiss badges?
No.What do you think of badge kissers?
To be honest, if I scored a goal and in that moment I“IF CITY PLAYED
[THE FRENCH
NATIONAL TEAM],
WE COULD BEAT
THEM...”