Interview with Gavin Suddell

One of the highlights of an otherwise disappointing trip to Leiston was seeing U18 youth team player Gavin Suddell make his first team debut. After the match, the young striker spoke to Wingate & Finchley to talk about his first senior appearance and here’s what he had to say: Gavin you must be delighted to have made your first team debut Yes I was just really happy to have come on. I’ve been waiting a while for the chance, I was on the bench against Wealdstone and I was hoping for an opportunity to come on then but obviously it didn’t happen so it was great to get the last 15 or so minutes of this game and hopefully it’s onwards from here and I can keep getting more involved. I was as disappointed as everyone not to have got three points or even a point out of it, it would have been great if we could have come away with something and then it would have been a memorable day all round for me but it wasn’t to be. The conditions weren’t great, the pitch was hard to play on and the lads dug deep but it was really tough. How did you find the step up to the first team? It’s a little different to what I am used to but it’s where I want to be and if I am able to maintain that then I will be happy. I just need to keep training hard, make sure my fitness is up to this level and keep learning off the other guys. As I said, this is my aim, this is what I want to be involved at this level and hopefully if I can keep doing the same and impressing the manager then I’ll have a chance to be involved again in some of the remaining games. How have the rest of squad been towards you, have they been a help? Yes definitely, they are a great set of lads here, we have some great banter and they are all very welcoming and supportive. It was great to have the day out with them today and the chance to play alongside some of them for a bit. The good thing about the squad at the moment is that there’s a good balance between more experienced players and some of the younger guys. It’s encouraging to see how much the likes of Jack Hutchinson and Spencer McCall have been involved and in really key games too, it gives the boys in the youth team something to aim towards because I think the opportunities are definitely there if you can prove to the manager that you are worthy of them. It’s been a good couple of days for you! You also got a hat-trick for the U18s in their 3-2 win against Northwood last Thursday Yea it was great; it’s definitely a week to remember for me. I felt confident from the off when I stepped on to the pitch against Northwood and then as soon as I got my first, I was looking to get my hat-trick and so of course I was delighted when my third went in. It was great to play a big part in getting a good win for the boys and it also gave me lots of confidence going into the Leiston game, it’s always good to go into a tough game on the back of something like that. And finally how has that season been going for you, tell us a bit more about how the U18 side are getting on We started the season so well, we won our opening three games and we looked as if we would be competing for the title. But over the last few weeks, we have fallen out of the running a bit. The season’s been really disrupted, lots of games were postponed and we lost our last two before the Northwood game so we lost a bit of ground but I’m hoping that result can inspire us. We were six points off the top on Saturday I think so you never know but we’ve just got to try and pick up as many points as possible before the end of the season, I’m hoping for a few more goals and we need to aim to finish as high as we can.