This season’s programme feature looking at the Academy players fires random questions at the lads – five about themselves, and five about their team-mates.
Here are the answers of Under-21s striker Donovan Wilson.
ME
If you weren’t a footballer, what would you be?
I’m not too sure. I think I’d probably try and take up something to do with football, maybe try and coach or something along those lines. If not that then I’d try and get into the property business, I watch a lot of shows about it like Grand Designs etc. and a couple of my parents’ friends are into it so it’s always been something I’ve been interested in.
What has been your biggest setback?
That’s difficult. I’ve only ever had one serious injury – I was out for half of the season with a knee problem. I’d say that was my biggest setback because I missed so much of the season and then it took me a while to get going after that. That’s the only real setback I’ve had so, touchwood, I don’t have any more.
Who is your best friend in football?
I’ve got quite a few friends here, I wouldn’t say I have a best friend, but there’s a few of us that hang out together; Callum Harris, Ryan Rainey, Connor Hunte, Aaron Simpson, Aaron Hayden – we’re always a group rather than individual friends. I’ve got quite a few friends down in Bristol as well because I grew up there and came through the academy.
What do you hope to achieve in your career?
Obviously I want to aim as high as I can which would be to play in the Premier League, that’s the dream for most young players. That’s what I want to do but if that’s not meant to be then I want to play at the best level possible after that.
How do you relax away from football?
When I finish training, I normally just go home, relax and watch TV. I’ll sometimes go to the gym and do some stretching, sauna, steam room etc. I might go to the cinema too. Not too long ago we went go-karting, which was good fun. Ryan Rainey and me were two of the better drivers but Connor Hunte and Callum Harris were near the bottom and I don’t think they took that very well.
Teammates
Who is the most forgetful?
I think I’d probably say me because I do forget a lot of things. If we’re going to a game, I might forget what colour t-shirt we’re supposed to be wearing so I turn up in the wrong one. I don’t know why, I just seem to forget things. I think I need a personal assistant.
Who is the boss of the dressing room?
Well we’ve got two dressing rooms, one for the second-year pros and one for the first-year pros. In our dressing room I’d say it was probably our group of friends, they’re the bosses. Ryan Rainey would think he was the boss but he’s not really. He’s just the loudest and talks the most. In the other dressing room I’d probably say Jim Kellermann, he’s up there.
Who has the worst hair?
I’d have to say Tendai Matinyadze. I’ve been at this club for over a year now and I think he’s had a haircut once, maybe twice. I always ask him when he’s going to get his haircut but he never does. He doesn’t do anything with it at all, I just don’t think he cares. I’ve never known anyone get their haircut once every six months.
Who has the least common sense?
I would say Aaron Simpson, definitely. He thinks he’s book smart but he has absolutely no common sense at all. It’s hard to think of a stand-out example but you’ll just have to take my word for it. I’d put him above everyone else.
Who is the best singer?
I’ve not really heard a lot of people sing but, back when Jordan Graham used to be with us, he was surprisingly good at singing. Nobody else is anywhere near - I’m not that good myself. I saw Jordan and Kortey Hause’s initiation songs recorded and they were both really good.
