Football Firsts: Yeovil Town midfielder Ben Tozer

First game you watched live?

Aston Villa against Arsenal – I must have been about seven or eight. I haven’t a clue what the score was, but I remember David Seaman saving a penalty. I was an Arsenal fan but sat in the Villa end because I went along with my brother Lee’s junior team, Mayflower. I support Plymouth, too, because that’s where I’m from, but Arsenal are my Premier League team.

First football hero?

I just loved Roberto Carlos. On FIFA, I used to play with him all the time and stick him up front. Obviously, I loved his banana free-kick. Arsenal-wise I was a big fan of Ian Wright and Marc Overmars, but, for some reason, Carlos was my favourite.

First pair of boots?

I got some Puma Kings when I was about four or five – my old man, Keith, treated me to them. I used to nag him to get some and, at one point, I actually had three or four pairs of Puma Kings, all in different colours. I don’t know why it was always those boots. I must have just liked the range of colours!

First kit?

I got an Arsenal kit, the old yellow and blue away one, and I’m sure it had Overmars on the back. I was never actually bought a Plymouth shirt as a kid, but I started playing for them when I was about nine, so I had all the tracksuits and stuff like that.

First professional game?

My debut was for Swindon, at home to Charlton in the League Cup. I played left-back and we lost 2-0. They were a big club back then and I was marking Lloyd Sam – I just remember him being really quick. They also had Darren Ambrose and guys like that, plus Nicky Weaver in goal, so it wasn’t a terrible result.

First professional goal?

I was on loan at Northampton in 2010 and it was my home debut, against Bradford. It was from a corner that got headed down and I basically poked it in. I didn’t really know what to do afterwards, so I just got swarmed by my team-mates. We went on to win 2-0 and it was a great feeling to have scored one of them.

First red card?

My last game for Swindon, away to Carlisle. Joe Garner was pretty much through on goal and I took him out, so I couldn’t complain. I knew I had a number of teams watching me at the time, so I had to impress. I think that actually ended up getting me my move to Newcastle, funnily enough. They wanted to see some aggression and that was quite aggressive – maybe that’s why it was my last game for Swindon!