Jack Sparkes

[Spoonz Red E]

I have a lady friend who lives within three quarters of a mile of Deepdale and she's hearing on the grapevine that Preston are interested in yet another of our players, and thinks it might be Sparkes.

Why can't their kit-man just fess up and admit he printed way too many shirts with 'JS' on them...

 

[Grecian2K]

Does the JS stand for Just Sold?

 

[jrg333]

Was George Friend ever a winger?

No. He was a striker in his youth. You can keep trying to think of examples, but I am right about this. No kid starts out wanting to be a left back. It's just a fact.

Excerpt from interview with George Friend:

"I wanted to be a rugby player but at 16 Exeter made me make a decision about the sport I preferred. I stuck with football. I was a fly-half at the time, I was probably not the right shape for rugby anyway!
"As a footballer I started off as a striker, scoring ten goals or whatever - if you can believe I used to score goals - and went to college, didn't do the YTS thing.

George Friend almost ended up playing rugby instead of signing for City

The defender played for Barnstaple Rugby Club

www.devonlive.com

 

[jrg333]

This definitely isn’t true.

It is true. All defenders were attackers in their youth teams, even people like John Terry used to score 40+ a season in his youth team.

 

[IndoMike]

No. He was a striker in his youth. You can keep trying to think of examples, but I am right about this. No kid starts out wanting to be a left back. It's just a fact.

Excerpt from interview with George Friend:

"I wanted to be a rugby player but at 16 Exeter made me make a decision about the sport I preferred. I stuck with football. I was a fly-half at the time, I was probably not the right shape for rugby anyway!
"As a footballer I started off as a striker, scoring ten goals or whatever - if you can believe I used to score goals - and went to college, didn't do the YTS thing.

George Friend almost ended up playing rugby instead of signing for City

The defender played for Barnstaple Rugby Club

www.devonlive.com

It's a bit of a mahoosive conclusion to state categorically that no kid starts out wanting to be a full back. Maybe some kids had footballing heroes who were full backs and wanted to be them. Where are your data to back it up?
I realize that several very young kids might want to be goal scorers, but I still think their preferences might also include other positions.

 

[jimbo-gould]

It is true. All defenders were attackers in their youth teams, even people like John Terry used to score 40+ a season in his youth team.

I was a full back by choice. Idolised Gary Neville. But you know that no one wants to be one.

 

[Hants_red]

Interview pre-Orient with Jack

 

[Hants_red]

Now it's Jack Sparkes to answer weird questions from City fans

 

[Hants_red]

A good interview with Sparkes, well worth 4½ minutes of your time

 

[edwin_price]

Thought Sparkes was outstanding 2nd half vs Orient.