ISAAC Buckley-Ricketts is in a privileged position – being able to tell England’s senior footballers how to win a European Championship.
Curzon Ashton’s new signing certainly has the pedigree, coming through at Manchester City, where he was coached by Pep Guardiola.
And he went where Gareth Southgate’s side twice narrowly failed to do, by going all the way and winning the Under-19s Euros in 2017.
Then team-mates included Arsenal goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale, Manchester United’s Mason Mount and Southampton new boy Ben Brereton, now Chile international Ben Brereton Diaz.
Buckley-Ricketts keeps in contact with members of that victorious squad and lessons from the best can help him inspire another successful National League North campaign.
“I’ve a little experience of playing in the Euros,” said Buckley-Ricketts modestly. “The memories are still vivid. I still have the shirt and my medal in my room at home in Manchester.
“A lot of players in that squad have pushed on and that helps me. It’s a bit of a motivator to try and chase their tails.
“And I still keep in touch with a few of them. As footballers, it’s a normal thing to keep in contact with people, regardless of how high they’ve gone.
“It’s a universal thing, strong connections made in the experiences I’ve had. Although, it would probably be a fine if I start name dropping!
“I was at City from the age of 13 until I was about 20. Brahim Diaz and Jadon Sancho were in my team, as well as Tosin Adarabioyo.
“It was a brilliant team to play in and I worked a few times with Pep. After initially being starstruck, you just have to get your head down and try to impress.
“It was an eye-opening experience to be around world class players. I was seeing things I didn’t realise until I was playing there – and they’ve benefitted me.
“Pep doesn’t want good, he wants excellent and it brings everyone up, even the youngsters.
“And even though I’ve dropped down the levels, I still keep that mindset – aiming to be the best I can be every time, in any session, any game, home, away, it doesn’t matter.
“Hopefully that can help both the team and I progress.”
Buckley-Ricketts arrived at The Tameside Stadium from Warrington Town, another move up the on-league ranks after dropping out of the professional game, which also saw him play in the Netherlands for FC Twente.
Life is very different, not least in having a player/manager in Craig Mahon, who may be alongside him on the pitch.
But this is not the end, not as high as he feels he can go. His aim is to go even higher, ideally with Curzon.
The 26-year-old forward added: “The long-term aim is to get into the Football League, into a full-time set-up. I want to play as high as I can while I still can.
“The move up the divisions to Curzon will bring more out of me as I’ll be playing alongside players with a lot more experience.
“Also, I’m under a different regime, which will change many things and it’s only going to improve me.
“Life here is very different to Warrington Town. The whole philosophy is different, it’s a different bunch of lads and a whole different family behind it.
“And having Craig there is new as I’ve never experienced it before and it’s very interesting.
“On the pitch, you’re getting coached by the gaffer instantly.
“Sometimes you may not deal well with someone just shouting at you, so if he shows you how through play, it’s even better.”