Bukayo Saka's journey from Greenford Celtic to starring for England at 2022 FIFA World Cup

My earliest football memory would be playing in the garden where I lived in Greenford, West London. I used to play at the back of my house and also out the front of my house, where there was a green area and everyone would come out to play after school until it would get dark. 

As I got older, I started to play more in the back garden with my brother. We had two goals, so we used to play matches. My brother, Abayomi, is two years older than me and my dad would normally just stay at the back in goal. It would be me versus my brother and if I got past him, I would have to then score past my dad. It was quite competitive and I never let anyone stop until I won!

I remember my uncle came to my house around the age of six and he said ‘oh, you're playing football a lot. You should try and go to a local team’. So we researched our local team, which was Greenford Celtic, and we went there. When the coach Colin said the team was full, I was quite gutted, but he said he'll let me train and after seeing me, he said ‘I think you're good enough to get into this team so I’ll make space for you’. Colin put me straight into the team and I went from there.

I was there for around six months to a year when I started to get a lot of scouts contacting my parents and I started going to trials at different clubs. There were quite a few. Arsenal, Chelsea, Watford, Tottenham and there were more, but those were the ones where I was going to the trials.

Watford were the club closest to me so I went there for a while. I used to train at the Harefield Academy and sometimes would play matches at their London Colney training ground, which is next door to where I train now with Arsenal. You couldn’t sign until you were like nine years old and then I decided to go to Arsenal.

I also used to play for my school teams at Edward Betham and then Greenford High School. I just didn't say anything to Arsenal about it! As a kid, you can probably play three games in a day because you don't really get tired so I could play a match at school and then go to train in the evening with Arsenal and things would be normal.

My team in primary school was the first to win the Peal Shield and we won it twice while I was there. I also won another competition when I was at secondary school as well, which was really nice too.

One player who I knew growing up was Jadon Sancho as we were both at Watford around the same time and he was there with my brother. I used to see him a lot and sometimes he would come to my house and stuff so I sort of grew up with him.

After signing at Arsenal, I then stayed there all the way through. I always loved football and I think when you're young, every kid loves football but as you grow up, you see it get more and more serious. So I think because I had that love for the game, I was willing to do the serious things I needed to make it one day and achieve my dream. That love of football is the most important thing which helped me become successful.

Growing up, my favourite player was Cristiano Ronaldo. Everyone used to do the same stance as him and the same celebrations. Of course it's difficult to model yourself on him because he's one of the best to ever play football and with his stature and the way he can score headers. He can do a lot of stuff that is obviously difficult for others to do but he was definitely my role model growing up.

As for Arsenal, I used to love the older generation of players like Thierry Henry. I loved Thierry. And because I was at Arsenal, I used to be able to go to games and at that time I loved Alexis Sanchez. He was one of my favourite players. 

Getting to go to games as a kid, I think you never forget that. That's a memory that stays with you for the rest of your life.

The love I've had from the England fans has been special and it means everything to me. When you hear your name being sung by the crowd and them cheering you on, it makes you want to give more for them and to do even better for them.

It’s nice to think that kids are now looking up to me. I hope I can continue to inspire them, be a good role model for them and make them proud and happy. I always try to conduct myself in the best way possible because I know there are children who look up to me and are watching everything that I do. I'm always aware that I need to try to be the best example for them as possible. 

To any kids looking to become a footballer, you have to love football, you have to enjoy it and always play with a smile on your face, and just give everything you can to make the most of your potential.