Getting to know... Alfie Whiteman

Who...

...knows you best?

I mean, I have to say my mum. It’s quite a cliché answer but it’s true! She’s known me the longest! I have a great relationship with her and my Dad. They still live in Tottenham, close to the stadium, they can see it from their bathroom window!

 ...has been the biggest influence on your career so far?

Perry Suckling has had a huge influence on me. When I was about six or seven, I was a mascot for the first team at a game away to West Ham, Perry was the goalkeeping coach at the time. He didn’t know me, but after the warm-ups he gave me a warm-up jumper which I took home. It was only a few years later when I came for a trial at the club and he was Head of Goalkeeping for the Academy. I ended up signing and he has basically coached me all the way through my career until last season really. Even when he went to QPR, we stayed in touch. He’s a very caring and selfless person, a lovely guy.

 ...would you most like to see in concert?

I’d love to see Radiohead, I think they’d be great. But if I could choose anyone at all, I’d probably say Al Green. There are loads, it’s a long list and people like Nina Simone and Miles Davis at the height of the jazz scene would have been incredible. And I would rather have seen them perform at a small intimate club than a big venue.

...is the biggest joker in the squad?

Now that he’s our captain, maybe he’s calmed down a little but Sonny has a great sense of humour and brings a lot of positive energy to the dressing room, as everyone around the Club knows.

Where...

...do you go when you need to relax?

I like to go the cinema by myself and I did it just the other night. If I need to de-stress and just unwind, I’ll go out, maybe grab some food first and go to the cinema on a little solo date.

...did you make your professional debut?

I made my professional debut here at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in a Europa League tie against Ludogorets in November 2020. Unfortunately it was during the pandemic but still great to make my debut for the club I’ve supported all my life.

...do you prefer to go - beach or city?

I’d have to say beach, or something sort of nature related because I’ve grown up in the city so it’s good to escape sometimes and go somewhere different. That’s what I really enjoyed when I was on loan in Sweden, because I spent time living in a cabin in the woods by a lake and really embraced that slower pace of life.

...do you think you can most improve yourself as a player?

It would probably have to be on the match pitch. The training ground is a place where you can work on specific things but during a game is when it’s all put to the test. That’s when you have to make those split-second decisions and you have added pressure of playing in front of fans and with points up for grabs.

How...

...do you like your eggs in the morning?

I have the same breakfast every morning – a ham omelette with honey on it.

...many times have you played for your country at all levels?

I made my debut when I was 15 for England Under-17s and I’ve played 17 times for various England youth teams since.

...often do you fall asleep in front of the TV?

I’ve been doing a lot of rehab recently following my injury which has involved a lot of swimming, gym sessions, bike sessions and I’ve been getting home exhausted. So when I get in and sit down, I almost instantly fall asleep - TV on or not!

...many pets do you have?

I’m moving into a new place soon and I’ve actually just got two kittens which will be coming with me, although they’re still too young at the moment. At the family home, there are two cats - Stanley and Oscar - and a dog called Benji as well.

What...

...is your favourite ice cream flavour?

I might go a bit niche here - Little Moons mochi ice cream is amazing, especially the passionfruit flavour. And I also really like the dark chocolate sorbet made by a company called Hackney Gelato.

...was the first football shirt you owned?

That would have been a Kappa Spurs kit, the stretchy one from 2005/06, royal blue with a yellow collar, yellow sleeve cuffs and yellow trim down the side.

...is your favourite TV series of all-time?

I’d have to say The Sopranos, a superb series. Tony Soprano is such a fantastic character.

...was your first position in football?

To be honest I started playing in goal from a very young age. Maybe I played outfield when I was six or seven and it was six-a-side football, but from about the age of eight I was in goal as I realised I was a better keeper than I was an outfield player! I just enjoyed it more as well and as soon as I came here at about 10, that was it – I was a goalkeeper.

When...

...did you last get your hair cut?

I’m cutting my own hair at the moment and it was two days ago. A buzz cut all over and I probably do it every week and a half right now.

 ...was your biggest setback?

There have been a few down the years but it was pretty tough getting injured this pre-season. I broke my ankle, tore the ligaments and needed surgery and it’s been the most significant injury of my career. It’s never nice to get injured just when a new manager has come in and you’ve done a lot of hard work in pre-season as you try to impress and then have to start again from scratch, so this has probably been my biggest setback.

...was the last time you wore a tie?

I’ve been to a couple of weddings over the last few years but didn’t wear a tie, so I think the last time was probably when I was at secondary school, which I left in 2015!

...does your alarm go off in the morning?

It goes off at 6.50am and I have a Lumie alarm which gradually lights up the room. I might snooze it a few times and then get up around 7.15am!