Levi Colwill might have been heading to Harrow this weekend instead of Poland with England.
The Chelsea centre-back is part of Gareth Southgate’s England squad which is taking on Ukraine in Wroclaw on Saturday in a Euro 2024 qualifier. But if he wasn’t picked by the Three Lions then he might have been going to watch a league match in the seventh tier instead.
Southampton-born Colwill, 20, still keeps tabs on his local side Sholing, who take on Harrow Borough FC this weekend. "I still go whenever I can," he said. "I haven't been this season yet but I went a few times last season.
"I like going to their ground, I like going to away days if I have a chance. They all love me! So it's cool."
READ MORE: Evan Ferguson to Chelsea could be on after Mauricio Pochettino's transfer hint
It was actually being a mascot for Sholing that helped inspire Colwill to reach the level he’s now at which is starting for Chelsea and getting in the England senior squad after helping the U21s to Euros glory in the summer.
Colwill walked out at Wembley with his uncles – Barry and Byron Mason – for the 2014 FA Vase final when Sholing beat West Auckland Town.
"I remember waking out with them, feeling the nerves," said Colwill. "I remember how serious they were and I remember the celebrations after. It was just like a family thing in their team. Everyone was a family and I love that feeling.
Should Levi Colwill start for England at Euro 2024? Let us know in the comments section below.
"So being a little boy I remember walking out and looking up and thinking, 'I've got to be here one day, I've got to play here. I can't let my uncles play here and not me'."
Colwill has achieved his dream of playing at Wembley as he was part of the Huddersfield side who lost to Nottingham Forest in the 2021 Championship play-off final. The left-footed centre-back has found a place in Mauricio Pochetinno’s starting XI this season after signing a new contract at Stamford Bridge this summer.
TNT is the only place you can watch all the action from the Champions League this year. You can see every game from the group stage right through to the final as Manchester City look to defend their crown as the newest kings of the World's biggest and best football tournament.
£29.99 a month
Colwill impressed at Brighton in the second half of last season but he had to fight for his place with the Seagulls. He revealed how Adam Lallana was a key influence on him on the south coast and that the ‘laid-back’ defender sometimes needs a ‘kick up the bum’. Now he’s hoping working with Pochettino will help improve him further.
"I know I’m going to improve," he said. "I can guarantee that. He’s such a good manager and he will push me, he won’t let me have any off days, that’s what I need. Someone like me, if someone lets me go to sleep I might just have a good day or a bad day.
"I need someone there to give me that kick up the bum and say ‘keep going’. That’s what he does."
Colwill has looked up to different defenders but John Stones is one of his idols. The fact he looks up to a 29-year-old shows how young he is himself. And that’s reinforced by his first memory of England at a major tournament.
He added: "First tournament I remember? What was the tournament when Frank Lampard hit the bar against Germany? 2010. I remember I was with my dad, mum and cousin somewhere.
"We were on holiday somewhere. That’s where I remember watching it and my dad went crazy screaming ‘it’s in!’"
Source: Read Full Article
