One on One | Get to know Fulham’s young King!

0:01When I was eight years old I used to say that I wanted to be the best midfield ever but It's coming, John, it's coming. I was actually there when he scored in the playoff final. So were you in the Fulham fans when that went in? I was, I was. I was screaming as a ten-year-old. I was loving it. My mum and dad, they're people who have always been supportive of me and they've never put pressure on me and I feel like that's part of the reason why I've sort of got to where I am. Because the feeling is almost addictive, it just makes you want to do it more and more. That's why I can understand why Ronaldo's been doing it for so long.

0:43Hello, I'm Joe Tomlinson. Welcome back to One on One from Sky Sports, the podcast where we chat to some of the biggest names in the game. It's the second international break of the season and Jules is on a holiday, so I'm flying solo today. But before the pause in the Premier League, I got to meet one of the hottest young talents in the top flight, Fulham's Josh King. And to be honest with you, the next 15 or 20 minutes might well blow you away. He's only 18 years old, but this lad chats to me like he's a seasoned pro. We find out about King's upbringing, the influence of his family, coming through the Fulham Academy and almost, he should have, scored his first Premier League goal for the club.

1:22Josh also talks about playing under boss Marco Silva, so we asked the Fulham boss about his young talent. The key, first of all, for him is to feel the faith and the belief from not just from myself as a manager, our staff, but his teammates as well. I think from two years ago when I remember clear the first session of him with us, the impact, the straight impact that he got in that moment and the feedback from his teammates. And you know, the most important thing for a football player, of course, is to feel the trust from the manager, definitely. But to have an impact in his teammates is very important too.

1:57I think he got it straight away. The first session of him, of course, was a development process in the way at 16 years old he started to train with us, step by step to go. Unfortunately for him, he had a bad injury in the Metatars that break a little bit of momentum. I had a conversation that moment with him to prepare straight away the next season that he's going to be a senior player in our football club at 17 years old. And apart from that story, he made a debut at 17 years old last season. as a starting level player for Fulham. I think last season was very important because we all know the talent that you have in our football club and in our hands to work with.

2:35Last season was very important. The way he understood the season, sometimes not playing in the under-21s, but most of the time to be with us, other times there, many games involving the first team or playing or coming from the bench or sometimes to be just involved in contention to the game, I think making to grow, definitely. I knew that was not necessary it's not the case that he needs to go to play football in other places in different divisions to come stronger. I knew that it's not going to be necessary with him because he was in a stage that I prefer him to be with us and just other things he has, you know.

3:12It's not just about the talent many people talk about the talent with Josh I think he's a good example for all the others and for the academy players and from the players that you have in our club it's not just about the talent because talent and many players they have as well it's about his knowledge about the game he's understanding the game, what you ask him he try to do straight away the minute after, very humble player, he's young, he has a good background it's important to help him as well but he's very humble, always the right mindset to learn because that he's playing, he's playing and he knows that he has a big challenge ahead of him because top players around him in that position and for him to be playing he has to do very very good things and he's doing.

3:51That was Marco Silva. Let's get into it then. My one-on-one with Josh King.

4:01Josh, thank you so much for joining me here today, man. It's great to have you in the building. I want to talk to you about your footballing history a little bit because you burst onto the scene in the famous words of Michael Rich this season, but I think it'd be good for people to find out a little bit more about you. How long have you been at Fulham now? Yeah, I've been at Fulham a long time now um I sat when I was about five years old I got signed or started at the pre-academy and then at the age of nine I got like a sort of contract which is like a pre-contract and then sort of worked my way up the ranks and then at the age of 16 17 I sort of started training with the first team and stuff getting a few opportunities I was on the bench a little bit a couple seasons ago and then last season I had my first start my debut and stuff and then and then this season And yeah, I guess you could call it a breakthrough.

4:48It's been good. I've had a lot of game time. So yeah, it's been enjoyable. I want to take you back to when you signed here at five then. Do you remember coming here that young? What was that like? You know what? It was actually a slightly different place. Like there was Motspur Park, which is where we are now. But there was also LSE, which was, it was basically like a cricket pitch. And it was actually one of the best parts of my life, to be honest, because it was just for the love of the game, the enjoyment. I used to get brought by my dad and stuff. So credit to him for like trekking every day and coming to training and stuff.

5:21And yeah, then around I think the age of seven or eight, then we started training here a little bit more on the Dome and the AstroTurf. And that was obviously enjoyable. And there's a lot of good coaches who have sort of helped me progress to this day. Have you always been like football is my obsession? This is my thing. Or have you been like multi-sport trying other things? Yeah, no, I used to actually play a bit of rugby, which you'd probably be surprised because of my stature. I'm not probably the one you probably expect to play rugby but yeah I used to used to play a bit of rugby fly half used to dabble in that which is good and then yeah other than that it's mainly been football I sort of made a decision when I was about 10 or 11 to sort of pursue it but I feel like up until the age of 14 15 I was really just doing it for the enjoyment and I still am but it was all just sort of go just enjoy myself play spend time with my friends and I think that probably helped me progress to where I am today Yeah, I mean, the academy here is competitive in every Premier League academy.

6:15But what is it like coming through at a Premier League academy? Is it really tough? You've got to come in working hard every single day? Yeah, I feel like part of it is just turning up, which is like a really big deal part of it. Obviously, when you turn up every day and you work hard on something every day, you're obviously going to get better and better. And I think Fulham, especially as an academy, is like superb. I feel like there's a lot of good players who have come through Fulham and it's kind of like a family environment, which is really nice. And it's sort of somewhere where I sort of grew up.

6:47I call it my second home almost because it's somewhere where I spent a lot of hours here working and enjoying myself and playing football and making friends for life. So you're still friends with loads of the academy boys here, presumably as well. Because obviously you've grown up, you've talked about your second family there. You must know basically everybody here. Yeah, no, I feel like sometimes I'm like, I'm saying hello to everyone as I walk in, the cleaners, the chefs, whatever. But no, that is why it's such a good place to be. And even I think my own age group, like there's a lot of people who are still here, who was here when they were about 10, 11.

7:21It's crazy. I think six or seven of the same people here. So like we've obviously become really good friends over time. And I feel like that's nice to have those people here still, whilst obviously making new friends in the first team and enjoy myself. Obviously, you spoke about your family bringing you to training every day. They must be so involved in your development here as well. You must credit them so much, right? Yeah, definitely. I'm so grateful for them, probably beyond words could describe. And I feel like especially my mum and dad, they're people who have always been supportive of me and they've never put pressure on me.

7:54And I feel like that's part of the reason why I've sort of got to where I am, because I feel like when you're at a younger age and you've got a lot of pressure on your shoulders, sometimes that pressure can get to you. And I feel like the fact that they were so supportive of me and they were so willing to do the hours, the journeys, the long drives and stuff really, really helped me. And obviously then I have an older brother. Shout out to him. He's 24 and yeah, he's a really good support system for me as well. And he actually doesn't really like football that much, but sometimes it's kind of nice to have that sort of other side to things where I can sort of bounce ideas off him and he's sort of like a person outside of the football industry, which is always nice as well.

8:34Is it a footballing family? Any good players or are you like standout? Probably standout. My dad used to play for the quarter and athletics. He was okay. He was okay. It was a good level. And my uncle used to be, he used to be the quickest sprinter in England at the age of 15. Really? I don't think I got that gene. I'm more agile, but no, yeah, there's a little bit. My mum was a bit sporty, so no, there's a bit of genes in the family. And what about you through the academy set, then? Have you always played the same way? This sort of like tricky, creative player, or are we talking a centre-back, a striker?

9:08What were we when we were younger? Yeah, I think so. I think I was always sort of like a bit of a jinky player, if I can say that. So a little bit tricky. I always used to like receive the ball, turn, drive forward. And I feel like that's probably part of the reason why I've done well. so far this season just because I haven't really changed. I've tried to do what I do or do what I did in the academy and bring it into first team football. I used to play, as a kid you've played every position, but majority I played central attacking midfielder. And then I dropped to a six or CDM for a couple of seasons when I was about 15, 16, which was interesting.

9:47It was definitely good for my development. It meant I got a lot of the ball and stuff and was able to sort of dictate play and then now back to sort of more an attacking position, which was nice. Obviously, when you're in that academy set up, like you said, you're changing positions and then you go to the first team. Do you remember your first time training with the first team? What was that like here? I do. It was a bit nerve wracking. I feel like all I tried to do and I got told a lot by the other players who were really supportive about it. Just just express yourself and try to do the things, like I said, which you do in the academy, me which which you then can bring into the first team because I feel like that's how you stand out and that's how you get a look and then the manager sort of thinks yeah this person is doing the same things and he's doing the things which got him here like just don't change really yeah absolutely and obviously you made your debut pretty quickly as well were you nervous on debut day did you know you were going to make your debut you know what I think I was more nervous for my first start because I had, so I made my debut against Brighton around last Christmas, a bit before.

10:46And then the week after, I had my first start. And obviously when you start, you sort of know you're starting a little bit beforehand. So it gives that time for the nerves to build up. Whereas for the Brighton game, I was more just like, because obviously I was on the bench and it was like the 75th minute or whatever. The gaffer was just like, yeah, let's go, let's go. So I was like, okay. Throw you up. Yeah, you sort of just like, you sort of just throw and straight in there so it's more just a bit more nerve-wracking for the start I guess but no I was it was nervous but it was more exciting for like something new like it's every kid's dream really so for me it was just exciting to get out there and play at the cottage.

11:23Talk to us a little bit about what that step up in level is like because obviously academy football is excellent across the country but the premier league is just a totally different stratosphere so how did you find that step up is it just ridiculous? Yeah there definitely is a big step up I think the main step up is the speed of play like the speed that you have pressure on you the speed that you have to think that that extra split second decision which which can affect the game between a goal and assist or you're losing the ball or etc that that's a really big part of it so i think the speed and obviously then there becomes a little bit of physicality as well with that but i think i was prepared quite well i had been training with the first team for about three four months maybe even longer um so i definitely got used to the speed of the game and the physicality which was which was good credit to the manager for sort of preparing me in that way and yeah then I sort of just went and tried to express myself on the pitch.

12:13Yeah you've mentioned the manager a couple times that I want to go into detail about Marcus Silver because I mean what a job he's done here and in your development as well he must be so crucial for you. Yeah 100 % I'm forever grateful for him as well obviously the person who gives you that first opportunity is such a big part of your journey and yeah I'm really grateful for him for that and he's also someone who I've always felt like I can sort of ask like bounce ideas off and and tactically like he's he's someone who always wants to to help you to help your understanding of the game and that's something which is really helpful to have as a young player and even the the trust he's instilled in me this season especially I mean like starting so many games at the start of the season as a young player is is a little bit crazy for me and it's something which I just have to be grateful for and obviously we have a good trust and a good bond between us which which hopefully continues yeah absolutely i mean even when you've had slight dips you know the mistake against brentford him afterwards and your teammates are so brilliant to see and i think that's just a credit to the dressing room and the type of manager and the type of players we have here is yeah they're a team we're a team which picks each other up when people make mistakes that we're not people to dig each other out and i think that's just a credit to the dressing room we have there because it's it's a really good bond who are you close to in that dressing room then who are we talking who do you sit next to i sit next so in the change room i sit next to timothy castagne yeah um he's a funny guy very funny guy um and i really get on with him he's yeah he's a he's a good guy um tom cairn he's always a always a funny one as well i sit quite close to him in the change room and obviously there's i guess the storyline of us coming out together and stuff so we we get along there's the main corporates who were who were who were funny with everyone Alex Calvin I mean all of those type of people who who have obviously made me feel really welcome as well Anthony Robinson as well there's a lot of players I'm pretty much even half the squad there's there's a lot of players and yeah it's a really good squad and I think I've always spoken even to my family about it saying like I'm really glad I came through Fulham partly because of the squad there is and the people who are here to sort of support me and help help me with my development yeah you mentioned tom there obviously such a vital part of this club and his development here through the years is he somebody you're sort of looking up to as like his career path has been so excellent yeah 100 i mean he's his career has been incredible the amount of games top flat games he's played championship games he's played i was actually there when he scored in the playoff final wow at Wembley a few years ago and that was incredible and yeah he's a really good guy and he's a credit to sort of the football club he's someone who's epitomises what we have as a team and a club and yeah he's a really good role model for me So were you in the Fulham fans when that went in?

15:01I was, I was screaming as a 10 year old I was loving it yeah no that was a good day it was a very good day Sessegnon has done beautifully oh and Kaney puts it away and the midfield master craftsman gives Fulham the breakthrough. I also wanted to talk to you a little bit about Ryan Sessignon. Obviously, he's a player who came through the academy, much like yourself. He's still here now. He's achieved so much in the game. It's a real testament to the academy set up here, isn't it, to see players like him and yourself in the team? Yeah, 100%. I think in our first few games, we've played against at least two academy products and played with one.

15:39Obviously, Cesc Young played against Fabio, Harvey Elliott. There's a lot of people who came through Fulham Academy. That's definitely a credit to the Academy. Words on Cesc, he's a really good person. He's one of those people who are really genuine and really care about his friends and his family and stuff. He's someone who I'm really grateful to have in the team as well, for sure. He's a player who obviously won the under-19 Euros, didn't he? All the way back when he did. You competed in it this summer. how did you find that as an experience yeah it was a really good experience i mean international football is always a little bit different to to club football yeah i feel like obviously there's maybe that's like added like buzz that's that added pressure because you're playing for your country um but no it was a really good experience we didn't sort of get where we wanted to get it was a tough group it was a very tough group and we and we didn't really didn't really get what we wanted to get out of it but at the same time look it was a really good experience and there was a lot of good sort of learning I took from it I actually got um two yellow cards in the first two games which means I missed the third game okay and then um yeah we ended up losing the third game so that was a bit of a blow but it's obviously something you sort of learn from and and then take into other parts of your life yeah obviously you've had so many learnings this season you're developing so quickly I mean the goal didn't count against Chelsea let's touch it man the feeling when that hit the net must have been wild yeah I'll be honest I can't describe that I feel like it was incredible.

17:07That feeling was like no other and I feel like that's also something which is because the feeling is almost addictive it just makes you want to do it more and more that's why I can understand why Ronaldo's been doing it for so long. It's that feeling which you just want to score and score and score and obviously I haven't got my first goal yet but I feel like it's definitely coming and it's something which I'm still working towards. And it's King bearing in on Chelsea's goal. Sets

17:49What are you working towards this season? Have you set yourself goals? What do you want to accomplish? How many goals do you want to score? How many assists do you want to get? Yeah, I mean, at the start of the season, I was more just about playing and sort of, I guess, creating a name for myself and sort of just having that game time, that ability to create chances and score goals. But obviously, as I played more and more, it's now I'm learning a lot. And it's, again, still about improving as a player and a person. But obviously, then football is partly about statistics as well. And I haven't really set myself a number.

18:18I'm trying not to put pressure on myself, but definitely I'd like to be getting in the goals and assists for sure soon. What about as a team? because obviously last season, records points tally. Are you hoping to better it this season? European football, what are we talking? I mean, as a team, we're always pushing for more. It's been quite a good start to the season and we're just sort of pushing to push higher up the table and obviously if that means getting to New Europe, then that would be amazing. Final question then. Career goals. What's the one aspiration you want to hit? Is it World Cup?

18:42Is it Champions League? What is the one thing you want to win? I think the World Cup is a big one. I think that's a really, really cool thing to win. Obviously, I've got lots of aspirations. I mean, when I was eight years old, I used to say that I wanted to be the best midfielder ever, but that's a difficult feat. But obviously, yeah, high ceiling, high aspirations. But yeah, I know the world's an oyster, so we'll see what happens. Josh, mate, love that. Thank you very much. Appreciate it. I have to say, when you interview a lot of young footballers, 18-year-olds, they can be quite nervous in front of camera.

19:20Maybe it's their first time doing something with an external broadcaster, which this actually was for Josh, but you wouldn't know. What a confident and brilliant young character he is in the game. At just 18 years old, it's hard to believe how quickly he's progressed through the Fulham ranks. It's also quite hard to believe how confident he is in front of a microphone, but that's what I want to hear. You want to hear personalities and characters that are willing to come out front up and speak about the game that they love so much. So remember the name, Josh King, and who knows, England fans could well be talking about him as a World Cup winner in the future.

19:55He certainly believes so.

20:00That's it for today's episode of One on One from Sky Sports. Don't forget, if you want to watch my interview with Josh King or any others from the series, you can find us across Sky Sports on our YouTube channels, on Sky Sports News and the website and app. We'll be taking a little break next week, but we'll be back with more One on Ones very soon. so if you don't already, give us a follow wherever you're listening to us now so you don't miss out. We'll talk to you very soon.

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