Alex Dunn looks at Ikechi Anya's remarkable rise from the football scrapheap to Sevilla.
From Halesowen to La Liga, Ikechi Anya recounts his tale to skysports.com
For any self-respecting Roy of the Rovers aficionado the names of Billy Dane, Johnny "Hard Man" Dexter, Hamish Balfour, Kevin "Mighty" Mouse, Gordon Stewart, Andy Steel and Blackie Gray roll off the tongue with the ease of a Roy Race finish when through on goal.
You could probably add Ikechi Anya's name to that list had his story not been just too unrealistic for a comic that didn't blush when publishing a weekly strip titled 'Wheelchair Wonder' and once had two members of Spandau Ballet turn out for Melchester Rovers. Gary Kemp's never been the same since.
Cristiano Ronaldo's transfer from England to Spain may have dominated the column inches, but it's Anya's move in the same direction to Sevilla that captures the imagination.
Ever so often in an industry monopolised by footballers on £70,000-a-week who label themselves 'Slaves', a story breaks that softens the brio of those that fear the beautiful game might just have turned ugly. Last week it was Darius Vassell being mobbed by 3,000 wonderfully enthusiastic Ankaragucu fans upon his touching down in Turkey and now, via the guiding hand of Glenn Hoddle, the tale of Ikechi Anya's move to Sevilla deserves its moment in the Andalucian sun.
Rewind 12 months and our protagonist was supplementing his income from playing for Halesowen Town, of the British Gas Business Football League, by taking on additional part-time work. Playing in front crowds of 500, on a good day, Anya's dream of the big time looked less likely than a drug-free Tour de France. Like many young footballers the bright lights had faded before he'd got to the end of his street.
As a promising first year professional at Wycombe a slight but skilful Anya initially caught the eye when he became the club's youngest ever player at just 16. Then Adams Park boss Tony Adams handed him his debut. Maybe he should have taken it as an omen. After just ten first team appearances he was released.
Released
Taking up the story at the time of his Wycombe exit, Anya, who over the course of our interview comes across as sharp, bright and eager to please, initially claims he was surprised before clicking into his default setting of self-deprecation and what is impressive self-awareness for a 21-year-old who has just signed a two-year deal with Spain's third best side. Most Premier League footballers would have had a tattoo of themselves etched on their back.
"I was a bit surprised but maybe at the time mentally, more than anything else, I hadn't developed as much as I might have," he told
skysports.com. "I think over the last two years, one thing above all else I've had installed in me is a stronger mentality.
"I probably needed to be released to realise that. Everything now, thankfully, appears to be working out for me and hopefully, if I keep working hard, that will continue."
After Wycombe it was a short stint at Oxford City before arriving at Halesowen like a week old balloon left at a birthday party - almost, but not quite, deflated.
He says his time at The Grove proved productive: "It was something like three or four divisions below the Conference. I went to Halesowen and it was really good for me, the right move. I had a slight injury when I left Wycombe and they helped me in terms of my fitness."
Academy chance
Happy but not fulfilled at Halesowen, Anya decided to chance his arm when undergoing trials for a place at Glenn Hoddle's Soccer Academy in Spain. The former England boss has used his self-imposed exile from management to throw his full backing, and finances, behind a first-of-its-kind Academy that aims to give young players who fail to make the grade at professional clubs a second chance. Hoddle is convinced that making critical decisions on the fate of young pros of just 18 and 19 is too soon; often leaving unrealised talent rotting on football's scrapheap.
Based in the picturesque resort of Montecastillo Resort in southern Spain, the Hoddle Academy boasts the coaching expertise of a top professional club, while allowing players to develop at their own pace without the pressure of performing on a week-to-week basis. If nothing else, being told you've got something by an ex-England coach has to soften the blow of being told you're crap by a lower league Mike Bassett.
It certainly worked for Anya, who is unsurprisingly keen to underline the gratitude he feels towards Hoddle and his team.
"Basically players are released from professional clubs and Glenn holds trials," Anya explains.
"If you do well in the trials you come over to Spain and spend time over here. Glenn and the other coaches try and develop your game because obviously there was a flaw somewhere for you to be released. They try and rectify your weakness and then hopefully the scouts that come and watch us can see something others missed.
"We live in Spain, there is a resort out here. Everything is top class. It's built specifically to bring out the best in players and is focused on each individual. My all-round game has improved, certainly physically but I guess mentally more than anything.
Top drawer
"Tactically too, you're here with the best possible coaches, the likes of Graham Rix, Dave Beasant, Nigel (Spackman), John Gorman was here for a bit too. I owe him a lot; he was the main person who got me out here in the first place.
"We've already had one lad (Academy striker Chris Fagan has signed for Lincoln) who has come back into the English game. I'm sure over the summer and the next few months they'll be more destined to go to some good clubs.
"If you come out here I don't see how you can't improve. They take your game to the next level. I feel very privileged to have had the opportunity to come here and I think everyone can improve themselves and develop if they do the same."
Stirred by Anya's conviction I dare to dream; is it really too late? I snap to my senses in the realisation even a cachet of 'everyone' probably includes small print excluding pot bellied, asthmatic 28-year-old journalists.
The Academy play friendlies throughout the season in a bid to put their charges back in the shop window and in the case of Anya, they've struck gold. Having impressed in two games against a Sevilla XI, Anya - converted from a flighty winger to centre forward by Hoddle - was invited for a trial at the Primera Liga giants.
Anya spent the back end of last season at Northampton, who wanted him on a long-term deal, but once Sevilla came calling...
"Over the course of a year here we've (the Academy) played a series of high-profile games and luckily for me when we've played Sevilla, twice, I've done alright.
"They got onto the Academy and asked me over for a trial game. Luckily I did well in that game too and they said they wanted me. Since then they've been coming to the Academy to sort out the deal."
Aware that the life of a footballer is often littered by broken deals and promises, Anya ensured the champagne remained uncorked before the ink was dry: "The trial game was about a month ago now and they said they were interested but in football I've learnt that things aren't done until they're done.
"I just kept it to the team and the coaches and now the contract has been signed.
Rubber stamped
"It's a two-year deal. It's a massive club, my aim, given my background, is to try as hard as I can and then hopefully sooner or later I'll be starting for the reserve side. From there, put in some impressive performances and then they can decide how far I can go."
Anya will start out with Sevilla's reserve side that plays in Segunda B but with the prospect of training on a day-to-day basis with the club's stars, he admits he'll be out to impress those at the top.
"The reserves train with the first team every day over there so you never know, if you do well in training they could throw you in to see how you can handle it in training. I'll just go over there, work my hardest and see how it goes.
"When I signed, they said now the real hard work starts. From the beginning they've said to me it's the start of something not the end. The guys at the Academy have told me I have to work even harder, it's just the beginning to try and get myself in the team."
Roy of the Rovers might baulk at the idea, but given his story so far, what price a Ronaldo-Anya face-off in La Liga next season?
