Academy Hotseat - Phil Ifil

Thu 11 September 2003, 12:00|Tottenham Hotspur

Tottenham Hotspur (Spurs) Football Club is located in North London. The club is also known as Spurs. Tottenham's home ground is White Hart Lane. The club motto is Audere est Facere (To dare is to do).

Welcome to the section where we place the spotlight on and get up close and ever so slightly personal with the players that are currently attempting to make the professional breakthrough from our Academy system.

Next in the Hotseat is...

Name: Phil Ifil

Age and Academy yeargroup: I'm 17 play for the under-17s

From: Waltham Green

Position: Right-back or right wing-back

How did you come to join Spurs?
I was ten year's old and playing for my local team when I scout came up to me and invited me to Tottenham for a six-week trial. It went from there and I was signed up after about two weeks.

How did you get on at School?
I did well in maths, English and science.

Favourite personal footballing moment?
There's lots - playing in the quarter-final of the Youth Cup last season was good. It was against Middlesbrough and I was still at school.

Most memorable game for Spurs?
Portsmouth in the Youth Cup was a good game for me - we won 3-1.

Favourite player from boyhood?
I'm still a boy really! Probably Pele or Maradona - my dad has got all the tapes at home and we used to sit down and watch them.

Favourite current Spurs player?
I like Ledley.

Favourite non-Spurs player?
Ronaldo - I could watch him all day, he's got everything.

What is your immediate to short-term ambition?
To do well in the 19s and Youth Cup this year - and play as many reserve games as I can.

Ultimate ambition?
To play in the first team before I'm 18.

Are you any good with your wrong foot?
Yes - I don't have a wrong foot. My left foot is quite good, but I can still improve on it like everything.

What is the strongest part of your game?
Passing and crossing. I'm not spectacular in any one thing and can do a bit of everything, which can all be improved.