Norwich striker Grant Holt has revealed the memory of his late father is what spurs him on to achieve success.
Former non-league striker tipped as a future England international
Norwich striker Grant Holt has revealed the memory of his late father is what spurs him on to achieve his success.
The 30-year-old Canaries skipper started his career in non-league but is now among Norwich's standout performers this term in the Premier League.
Holt's father died aged just 40 from cancer, while he was at his second club Halifax, and was deprived of seeing his son scale the league ladder.
However, the death of his beloved father made the powerful forward focus on the game.
"I wasn't bothered about football," Holt told the
Daily Mail.
Inspiration
"My dad had travelled all over the country to watch me playing for Halifax. Now I try to be as good as I can to make him proud.
"He's not here to see me do what I wanted to do, which is a shame. But hopefully he is looking down on me and feeling really proud of his son. I've had a lot of knocks and disappointments that I've had to bounce back from.
"Maybe there's a determination and inner-strength in me, but I think it comes from my dad. He is acting as my inspiration."
Holt's team-mate Paul McVeigh believes his skipper could get a surprise England call-up from Fabio Capello.
Finisher
He has scored seven goals this season and is England's third highest scorer this term, with some of his strikes coming against the best teams in the league.
Indeed, Andy Carroll's stuttering form for Liverpool means Capello may look for other options for a target man.
"People have doubted him each time he has moved up a league," said McVeigh.
"But he's scored at Stamford Bridge, Goodison Park and Anfield this season. He's proved everyone wrong again.
"I think being 30 will make it hard for him to get picked for England but he has proved he is a natural finisher and is playing well enough to get a chance."
