The Shirt With: Everton Winger Theo Walcott

LIVERPOOL, United Kingdom- It’s no secret that many young people growing up dream of playing football professionally and despite many of them not being able to, the beautiful game has been known to bring people together.

The feeling of being part of a team, whether it’s at school or in the estate, brings with it a sense of belonging which plays an important role in instilling a sense of discipline and purpose that one needs to mature.

Everton FC and England national team winger, Theo Walcott, reminisced about his first football kit and how being a part of a football team helped him develop into the household name that he is today.

From a tender age, Walcott always displayed utmost promise and will always be remembered for being the youngest player to ever score for the England Under-21 team on his debut in a 2-2 draw against Moldova on August 15, 2006.

“My favourite football shirt as a kid is definitely the one I wore when I first played for my local club,” Walcott began.

“It was my first time getting into football and wearing a shirt that made me part of a team felt quite important and I enjoyed it.

“When you’re young there’s not so much pressure and you just go out there and enjoy playing with your mates. Sometimes, I think like that on the pitch, as if I’m playing with my friends again,” he added.

Speaking to The Shirt, the exclusive series on SportPesa online and social media platforms, the Everton winger outlined what it meant to pull on the team’s jersey and what it means to him as a footballer.

Speedy nature

The Shirt involves engaging players in partner clubs of the leading bookmakers SportPesa, Everton FC, Southampton FC, Torino FC and the Tigers on what it means to pull on the team jersey in making every opportunity given to them count.

“Moving to Everton, what caught my eye was the tradition at Goodison Park.

“The music, you walk up the stairs and get that flicker of the floodlight hitting your eyes. It’s a special place,” the 29-year old stated.

Walcott is a product of the Southampton Academy and that’s where he began his career before moving to London where he spent an incredible 12 years at Arsenal FC, where he helped the Gunners win two FA Cups and a similar number of FA Community Shield trophies.

His speedy nature and ability to take on defenders on the flanks earned him quite a reputation and he was awarded the BBC Young Sports Personality of the Year Award in 2006, before being crowned the BBC London Young Player of the Year Award two years later.

On January 17 2018, Walcott signed a three-and-a-half-year contract with Everton in what the BBC reported as "a deal worth more than £20m", providing an assist for Oumar Niasse on his debut in a 1-1 home draw against West Bromwich Albion FC.

His next match was to be the most memorable for Walcott as he notched a brace to give Everton a precious 2-1 victory over Leicester City FC.

“My proudest moment in an Everton shirt is the first time I scored at Goodison. We were defending really high up the pitch and we managed to nick the ball off them and Gylfi (Sigurdsson) squared it for me to tap in,” Walcott reminisced.

“You could see the emotion I had after I scored, I ran to Gylfi and I was just thinking that I am here and ready to make a difference.

Shirt number

Walcott’s career has seen him score over 70 English Premier League goals and has played alongside legends of the game such as Thierry Henry and most recently Wayne Rooney.

“Being one of the senior players at the club and the amount of experience I’ve had in the Premier League and with the England national team, I’m always ready to help any of the younger players.

“If I can give that opportunity to other players because that’s what football is about. It’s about bringing people together,” Walcott explained.

Walcott is married to Melanie Slade, whom he met in 2004 and they have been blessed with two sons- Finley James Walcott (4) and Arlo Walcott (2).

“My two boys are the most important thing to me. They keep me busy, fit and young. They have Everton shirts that say ‘Daddy 11’ on the back,” he underscored.

Walcott began his career wearing the number ‘32’ on his shirt before inheriting the coveted ‘14’ at Arsenal, worn by the legend Henry.

When he moved to Everton, he picked up the unfamiliar ‘11’ and when asked about it, he simply responded: “There is no particular reason why I chose to wear the ‘11’ shirt. I always feel that it’s not about the number, it’s about the badge.

“When you put on that Everton shirt and see the badge, that history that the clubs got and you wanna make new history.

“For me, it’s all about the badge to be honest,” Walcott concluded.

THEO WALCOTT: THE STATS

Goals: 70

Goals per match: 0.24

Headed goals: 2

Goals with right foot: 57

Goals with left foot: 11

Assists: 48

Passes: 4,846

Passes per match: 16.32

Big chances created: 53

Crosses: 879

Shots: 562

Shots on target: 247

Shooting accuracy: 44 per cent

Hit woodwork: 17

Big chances missed: 71

Tackles: 187

Blocked shots: 124

Interceptions: 128

Clearances: 77

Headed Clearance: 28