Interview ~ Jermaine McSporran

Welcome to Wycombe Wanderers, Jermaine. Tell us a bit about yourself - where were you born?

I was born in Manchester, believe it or not, although my mum’s from Scotland. She started at the furthest point north, and slowly worked down to Manchester, where she met my dad, had me and then moved to Oxford. She and my step-dad brought me up since we moved down south.

So you’re basically a Mancunian with a bit of Jocko in there somewhere?

As far as I see it I’m an Oxford boy I’m a bit of a Southerner

We’re not sure about people from Oxford!

Oh! I see.

What about family - have you got any brothers or sisters?

I’ve got a sister Haley, she’s twelve years old and still at school. She’s all right I suppose, you know, she’s my little sister. I’ve got three half brothers in Manchester.

Do you see anything of them?

Yes! I still see now and again. When we were at Wigan they came to the game and came back to stay, they come down at weekends and if I’m up north I’ll stay over after a game and come back on Sunday, so I get to see a bit of them and my dad as well.

What do your mum and dad do?

Mum works for a computer firm doing some sort of admin and dad works for a mobile phone company.

Are you in a relationship?

I am indeed! I got engaged two weeks ago. I’ve been seeing her for about four years now.

Tell us a little bit about her.

Her name’s Sarah and she’s about six months older than I am.

So you’re a Toy Boy are you?

I’m her toy boy, not bad eh? She’s 22 and I’m not 22 until New Year’s Day. She’s not working at the moment, but she’s been really supportive through out the time at Abingdon Town, Oxford City, you know. She’s great. We’ve had our own little thick and thins and at the moment we’re just trying to enjoy ourselves and have just bought a house, so things are looking up.

Is there only one Jermaine McSporran?

Oh yes. But I’m happy to be a McSporran - I just hated it at school, but I had cousins in years above and below me, and everyone knew the McSporran’s. It was an okay thing, but coming here the reaction of some of the other teams, you know... it goes in one ear and out the other, I just laugh it off, I’ve heard it all before and it doesn’t bother me now. It’s my mum’s fault, I keep telling her, but I wouldn’t dare change it - she’d string me up!

Did you ever sign Youth Forms with anyone?

No, never. I played School of Excellence with Oxford United, went through those ranks, County Youth Team and things like that, but when it came to signing on for two years I didn’t get a look in. I only ever played non-league football after that.

What made you decide to join Wycombe Wanderers?

There was a lot going on at the time. I had a chance to go to West Ham and other places but I thought a good starting block was Division Two. I thought "They may be struggling" but it’s a great set-up here. I personally think I would have found it hard at a Premiership Club and try to work my way into a squad, where as here I could get more experience and hopefully play first team football. I came here to watch a game and the gaffer locked on to me. I think it’s very nice here, the crowd is great. I’ve got a three and a half-year deal, so I’m here!

That’s if we can keep you that long.

Well we’ll have to see.

How’s your life changed since signing?

The daily routine’s changed a lot. Before I was working night shifts and things like that. My lifestyle’s got a lot better. Financially I feel a lot easier. I’ve got fewer stresses, less to worry about. Obviously I come in, in the morning, I train, and I try to work as hard as I can, and concentrate on that. It’s been great; things haven’t changed a lot. If things have changed it’s been for the better, so that’s a good sign.

How different did you find the pro game compared to the semi pro game?

It is different; things like the ‘first touch’. When I came for my first training session your first touch has got to be quicker, sharper, you know you’ve got to think that bit quicker. I’ve just come off the back of Oxford City training twice a week, whereas training everyday sharpens you up all round, the boys here are that much sharper. You don’t get a chance to have two or three touches on the ball - it’s got to be passed straight away. On the physical side you get a little bit more time from some defenders, but the first ten minutes they’ll give you a good hammering from behind to let you know they’re there. Then they’ll back off if they realize you have got a bit of something, but in non-league it lasts for ninety minutes kicking you up all over the place, so in that sense it’s a lot better for me there is a difference. Playing against Shrewsbury the other day well I’ve played against better non-league teams then them. There is a difference, but I’m coping with it.

Do you find a difference in the plating surfaces?

Oh yes! I won’t go into that one! , Obviously the playing surfaces at this standard are great. The surface out there on our own pitch is great, but I’ve been to some non-league grounds where you really do need your wellies.

I remember from when we were a non-league side what some of them were like.

Yes in the Conference there are about five or six side that have decent pitches, but the rest are bobbly and cut up. There’s no grass and they are all sand but obviously here it’s completely different.

We’ve got a good groundsman here.

Yes! Jim’s the man he’s quality.

How does life here compare with, say, Abingdon Town?

Oh, you can’t compare them. The set up here’s fantastic, the whole pro thing. The facilities here for the players are spot on, there’s not many places I’ve been to like this, and obviously with it being a new ground it makes it a little bit more special doesn’t it? The facilities are great, we’ve got everything we need, I don’t know if there are any plans for the training ground, but it’s good at Bisham Abbey and gives us a great place to work on. It’s a big difference for me anyway, not having to clean our own boots and the kit gets washed every day, which means no smelly kit bag to take home for my mum and my girlfriend to sort out for me! It just makes it all a bit easier for me.

What was it like to get your first goal at Shrewsbury?

It was nice to get it out of the way early. I didn’t want to go on and on thinking when am I going to get my first goal, so that’s out of the way now. If I’m there I’ll just try and take them as they come. It’s done me the world of good, but also we’d just gone into the 'golden goal' situation, I didn’t think any of the players wanted to be hanging around much longer, so it was a bit of a relief as well. It was nice to just stick it away, then we could get on the coach and come home. It was nice; I was very pleased to get it over and done with.

A beer or two on the coach coming home, then?

Oh no, no beer, Just on the coach, a bite to eat, then straight home to bed!

How do you feel the season’s going to go from here?

Personally, I want to play as well as I can and as much as I can, and work on as many things as I can, but we’re in a bit of a sticky situation at the moment. I think we’re playing well enough (and can play better) to be able to get ourselves out of it. From what I can tell watching some of the games, with some of the performance the boys have put in, we should be at least halfway. There’s a long way to go yet, and you’ve got to take every game as they come and I’m sure we can grind some results and stay up.

From the terrace, it looks like the defending is now sorting itself out, but the problem now is scoring goals. You’re one of the people who’s got to sort this out aren’t you?

Well it’s what I was brought here for, but I know I’m not expected to bring miracles, so it’s a big step. As long as I come here, like I do, and train and work as hard as I can on the things I know I have to improve on, I shall try and take that in to the game and hopefully start sticking them in the back of the net as well. (Ed - we’re looking forward to that.)

When you first signed, you were named as a sub at Northampton. How did you feel about our supporters’ reaction to you?

I wasn’t surprised because in a sense I knew what to expect, but obviously the fans were great, they had their little songs for me but it was a lot different from non-league pure silence, if you know what I mean. That really welcomed me and they still do it now, I still get a good reception. It’s a lot to take in, and I’ve got to get used to it, I can’t take it all in yet in a sense. I can’t let it affect me and become all emotional. The fans have been great so far and it hit home a little bit, but I had to try and concentrate when I came on.

How does it feel for you to be playing against teams like Manchester City after having played for Oxford City against teams like Marlow?

Yes! Well if I’d already been here a year and then come out against Manchester City I might have been more relaxed. So far every game I’ve played, whether I’ve started or been a sub, my adrenaline’s always pumping. Last weekend when we played Blackpool, I think I went to the toilet about five times before kick off, but the nerves are going every time I go out there. Coming on against Man City, I think was the biggest crowd of the season, was obviously a big game to come on to. I just wanted to come on and just enjoy as much of it as I can. There was a lot of noise that night and I think that if I’d had a first touch before that header I might have done a bit better. It was nice to come on and try and show what I can do, but I was very happy and enjoyed it very much.

What are your plans for the future?

Train as hard as I can, play as good as I can, and see how it goes from there really. I’m here, I can’t see any further at the moment, I’m not thinking about moving so I just plan to do as well as I can for the club and enjoy my football, and pass my driving test.

When’s that then?

I’ve got to book it yet, but probably just after Christmas. It’ll save Sarah having to bring me in for training, but I think she’s enjoying the break at the moment. We’re both enjoying ourselves though, that’s the main thing.

So what sort of car are you going to get once you’ve passed your test?

I’ve always fancied a Robin Reliant painted in McSporran Tartan. We’ve got our own clan tartan - you’d be surprised. There is actually a McSporran clan up north.

How are you getting on with the rest of the lads?

The rest of the lads are fine. I was always going to feel that little bit intimidated when I first came here anyway, but people like Steve Brown have made me feel really welcome they got me sorted out with all my tracksuits and made sure I had everything I need.
As every day passes you build a better relationship with every player, in a sense,

What about the younger lads like Danny Bulman?

Well being a youngster myself, like Danny, Lee Holsgrove, we get on anyway because we’ve got a lot in common, the same interests. With the older lads it’s been great too, and even the YT boys have been great. I’ve skipped all their work and jumped straight into senior pro football.

Can you tell us about your most embarrassing moment in football?

Oh dear, well... I can think of plenty out of football, but in football that’s got to be when I was playing for Abingdon Town. I thought my shorts were a little bit too long, but I hadn’t realized the strings had come out of them. I pulled my shirt out, which had obviously padded the waistline, then I’d gone to run and they’re a size 42", too big for me anyway, and they’ve gone and wandered their way down. The problem was I was wearing a jock strap underneath because the old briefs had been rubbing me. I think that’s about the only one, but I think that one’s enough!!

What’s the funniest thing you’ve ever seen in football?

The other week when the two mascots decided to have a go at each other, I think it was at Wolves, a little punch-up for half-time entertainment. I did find that a bit funny. I mean, you don’t know what was going on underneath the suits with the people themselves, but I can’t really think of anything else. I suppose I think of something else on the way home in the car, you know how it is!

ED’S NOTE - Ted and Alison would like to thank Jermaine for his valuable time and wish him the very best with his driving lessons. We look forward to seeing a Robin Reliant painted in tartan in the car park soon - perhaps there’s a company out there who’d like to have it painted for him? Speak to Mark Austin... Everything else in sight is sponsored these days. We’d also like a wedding photo, please Jermaine, even if the big days a way off yet. Start sticking the goals in young man!!