Hampton Captains Series: Jamie Wilson
By Theo Payne and Harry Morris
What is your favourite moment in a Hampton shirt?
My favourite moment would have to be last year in the ESFA final. I enjoyed the whole cup run and playing in a team with boys who aren’t all in your year. The Upper and Lower Sixth had bonded so well, so then to win the ESFA final as well as that was probably the best day of my life.
What was it like playing in the massive stadium in front of so many fans?
Honestly, you can’t really compare the feeling to anything. All your closest friends, everyone in the school, all your teachers that you’re close to and your parents and family just watching you; you sort of zone out from the actual occasion itself: all the adrenaline rushing, you’re tired in the first ten minutes, blowing, and then the feeling of winning and getting an assist in the game, it’s just incredible.
Where you nervous at all before the game?
I was trembling walking into the stadium, on the coach there I was sweating, I had butterflies in my stomach, but at that point, when you have butterflies, you know that you care.
How honoured are you to be captain?
I’m very honoured. If you asked anyone in my year who would be the 1st XI captain four years ago, no one would have said my name, but it shows that Mr Burke has a lot of trust in me. I hope he believes that I have the ability to get the comradery up and get the team going.
For you, what are the most important qualities for a captain to have?
The ability to influence the team and get the spirits high, as well as to make an impact on the squad. If you’re losing a match or you go one nil down, the ability to get your team back and motivate others and be a leader is probably the most important quality for me.
What was your lowest moment in a Hampton shirt?
I got a red card last year. I missed the ISFA semi-final, and the school banned me for two games.
Has football always been your favourite sport?
Yes. I played football and rugby growing up and at Hampton, you have to choose between one or another. I did play rugby one term and football the other in year seven and eight, but you can’t really do that as you go further up in the school, so I chose football.
What sport do you play in the summer at Hampton?
I did athletics. It’s also really good; going out to the tournaments with Mr Mills: it is a day out in a sense – always a bit of fun!
How would you rate your season so far?
It started off well, and then we got knocked out of the two major cups, but since then we have had a really good run of form. We are first in the Hudl League for the best schools in England. Since then, we have had Mr Hurst because Mr Burke has been out with surgery, but we have played really well and showed a lot of fight to come back even though we don’t have a lot of trophies to play for this season, so we just need to keep winning our games.
What is your favourite goal you have ever scored for Hampton?
I would say that my favourite goal was probably this season in the second round of ESFA, but last year, in the quarterfinals of ESFA, I scored a hat-trick after coming on from the bench. We were 1-0 down in that match, so it was quite a pivotal moment in the season.
Were you always in the A’s, and if so, were you the captain?
I was the captain of the A’s in first year, and then I have always been in the A’s but not always been captain.
Was your team good lower down the school or has it grown recently?
We have always been a well-rounded team. We had a boy in our year called Chibby Nwoko, who is now at Fulham U18’s, but we’ve always been strong and had a good team.
Which coach has been most inspirational for you at school and why?
I’d say Mr Hurst but also Mr Burke. Mr Burke in a sense where he is a bit more serious with you and a bit more of a tough love way, he won’t show as much. He is always going to root for you, but he will be a bit more constructive. Mr Hurst in a sense where he has this ability to properly one-on-one coach you and get to know you as a person and know how to motivate you and get you going if you are not doing too well in a match. He also has the ability to get the squad fired up. I’d say those two in particular.
