TRAFFORD "MY FRIENDS & FAMILY ARE WHY I PLAY FOOTBALL"

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Goalkeeper talks family support, being a Claret and striving to improve

2023-12-15T13:00:00.000Z

TRAFFORD "MY FRIENDS & FAMILY ARE WHY I PLAY FOOTBALL"

Goalkeeper talks family support, being a Claret and striving to improve

2023-12-15T13:00:00.000Z

Goalkeeper talks family support, being a Claret and striving to improve

The feeling of walking out onto the Turf Moor pitch in front of friends and family is a special moment for goalkeeper James Trafford who cites those closest to him as the reason he plays football.

“My family have been to every home game this season and a few away games, as well as my mates. They’re why I play football.

“It’s great to see them all at the games when we walk out and then afterwards as I don’t get to see them that much!”

21-year-old Trafford has played every Premier League game for Burnley this season and his heroics in last Saturday’s draw with Brighton & Hove Albion saw the Clarets leave the south coast with a point.

Reflecting on the game, the goalkeeper was happy with elements of the first half and believes the performance definitely shows the squad is on the right track.

TRAFFORD "MY FRIENDS & FAMILY ARE WHY I PLAY FOOTBALL" - Image 1

“It was good. The first half we played well on and off the ball but as the game went on, we dropped deeper and looked less threat of scoring. We are on a journey as a squad to keep improving and I felt we did well. But there’s always a lot to improve on.”

With his saves under sustained pressure a talking point online, including a super stop of a Mitoma back-post shot in the final minutes; did he manage to see any of the comments following the game?

“My mates said that I got a lot of praise, but I don’t look at social media, so I don’t see any of it. I just hear what my friends and family decide to tell me.”

Last time out on home turf, the Clarets secured a clean sheet and their first home win of the campaign against Sheffield United, with the win and positives from subsequent performances giving the squad confidence leading into a busy festive fixture schedule.

“As a team we always believe and have confidence, but it was important to pick up our first clean sheet and home win of the season, which we take some confidence and belief from and put that into the next set of games.

TRAFFORD "MY FRIENDS & FAMILY ARE WHY I PLAY FOOTBALL" - Image 2

“Obviously, the Premier League is tough, it’s the best league in the world but I feel that as a team we’ve all adapted quickly and kept on improving as the season has gone on and we’ll continue to do so.”

Signing from Manchester City in July 2023, his Club since he was 12 years old, the England U21 international is loving life at Turf Moor under Vincent Kompany. However, adds that having some familiar faces in the squad helped him settle in!

“I’m really enjoying it here.

“It’s a lot of working hard both on and off the pitch but I’m really enjoying it and it helps when the lads and staff are really good. It helped already knowing CJ and Aaron previously too.”

The next test for Trafford and his teammates…Sean Dyche’s Everton, and it’s a challenge the Clarets number 1 is looking forward to.

“I’m excited for the game against Everton. They’re doing well and every game is tough, but we will prepare all week for them and look to win on Saturday.”