JAMES TRAFFORD has emerged as one of the best young goalkeepers in England.
However, his grandfather wanted him to take a different path.
GettyJames Trafford has revealed his grandfather wanted him to become a jockey[/caption]
The 22-year-old, who is one of the most talked-about players in the EFL right now, was raised on a North Cumbrian family-run farm in the Lake District.
Having also worked on the farm growing up, his duties included lambing and mucking out.
His grandfather, Bill, wanted him to stay in the farming business if he did not go on to become a professional sportsman.
But he was happy to make an exception if Trafford wanted to become a jockey.
Trafford told SunSport: “Grandpa Bill, god bless his soul. I have two cousins then my sister and I.
“Grandpa always said, ‘he has to be a farmer’ but he really wanted one of us to be a jockey — but we were all too tall!”
The Burnley star neglected the racing route and instead pursued a career in football.
He signed for Manchester City at the age of 12 in 2015 and went on to spend eight years with the club before joining Burnley, where he established himself as a regular first team starter.
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Trafford has since made 60 appearances for the Clarets and is currently enjoying an incredible run of form.
The ex-City star has only let in NINE goals all season, keeping 23 clean sheets.
Trafford has not conceded a goal in 1000 minutes and is aiming to record his 12th successive shutout when Burnley face Sheffield Wednesday on Friday evening.
Despite his growing reputation as one of Europe’s finest talents, with a host of Premier League clubs hoping to snap him up, the youngster still loves getting his hands dirty on the farm.
He said: “I enjoy it. I do it to spend more time with dad because I always go out for lunch with my mum when I go home and he’s always working.
“When I was with dad last month, I was bedding up all the sheep and putting hay out for the ones outside.
“We’ve always done that. I remember as a kid on the tractor where he’d sit on the seat and I’d be on the arm-rest, and our dog would be down there.”
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