WILLEM Tomlinson has one over his new Ashton United team-mates – no-one else has shared a pitch with Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Paul Pogba.
But the Robins’ midfielder can claim that and no-one can take that away from him.
Tomlinson came through the ranks at Blackburn Rovers and was thrown straight in at the deepest of ends for his first team debut.
There was no finding your feet and stepping up. He was pitched straight into an FA Cup fifth round match against Manchester United, featuring megastars Ibrahimovic and Pogba.
The United side in that 2-1 loss for Rovers also featured Marcus Rashford, Ander Herrera, Michael Carrick, Ashley Young and Juan Mata.
“That was my debut against Man United, a long time ago,” Tomlinson – aged 19 when he took the pitch eight years ago – recalled.
“But I’ve done it. It’s a massive achievement and it’s something I’ll take with me for the rest of my life.
“I was warming up on the sideline and didn’t really think that I was going to come on, because you never do when you’re a young lad.
“Then when you get the call, you don’t have time to think about it really. I went on, enjoyed it and soaked up all the minutes I was on there.
“But I didn’t get a shirt. David Raya, who was sub goalkeeper at the time and is now at Arsenal, got Mata’s. He used his Spanish connection.
“It’s crazy to see where he’s at now but fair play to him. He’s absolutely smashed it and he deserves it because he was unbelievable.
“He’s always been class. You could see it from when we were young.”
After such an introduction to first team football, Tomlinson is at Ashton United looking to rebuild after a serious ankle injury sustained 15 months ago.
Now as he looks to help Steve Cunningham’s side go one better after making the Northern Premier League Premier Division Play-Offs last season, just being on the Hurst Cross pitch is a thrill.
He told The Correspondent ahead of their season opener at Gainsborough Trinity on Saturday, August 9: “I fractured my ankle and I ruptured two ligaments. It was a tough, tough time.
“It took me a few months to get it diagnosed and there were times when I thought I might jnot play football.
“But I had a chat with Steve and he said there’s an opportunity here, so I worked hard. I’ve been in all pre-season with them. It was just a case of getting fit after being injured for so long, but they signed me.
“I’m at a stage now where I’ve strengthened it quite a lot over the last 13, 14 months.
“I played a few games for my mates’ team at Padiham last season to try and get my match fitness.
“The uncertainty’s not nice, but I feel like we’re at the other end now. We’re at the other side of it now and hoping for a good, positive season with no injuries, touch wood.
“And I’m at a club that’s ready to kick on from the play-offs last year.”