IT is almost seven years since a 16-year-old Anthony Pilkington had his dreams crushed by his beloved Blackburn Rovers.
Having already been rejected by Manchester United, being told he was ‘too small’ by his home town club left Pilkington in the footballing wilderness and ready to give up on his ambitions.
This afternoon will see him run out at a packed Carrow Road ready for his first ever competitive match against his former love. He doesn’t hold grudges but he is certainly proving a point.
Since being released by Rovers’ youth system, Pilkington has experienced a remarkable journey that has taken him from Sunday League footballer to Premier League hot shot.
The 23-year-old has already starred at venues such as Anfield and Old Trafford this campaign, having signed for Norwich from Huddersfield Town for £2m in the summer, and is the Canaries’ top scorer with three goals from the wing to his name.
He has come a long way since the days he was plying his trade in the Blackburn Sunday League for Darwen Catholic Club and – having overcome his fair share of hard knocks – he doesn’t intend to go back.
He said: “This is the first proper game I will have ever played against Blackburn. We played them in a friendly but obviously that didn’t count.
“I have always believed I could do it but it was just about getting the chance. I got the chance and there is no way I am going to let it go now. I want to make sure I prove to myself and everyone that told me I can’t do it that I can.
“Rovers did say I was too small and to be fair I didn’t grow until I was 18. That was one of the factors.
“Obviously it was very hard at the time. As any kid thinks at that age, I probably did think that was it. I never gave up and just went to play football.
“There are no hard feelings towards the club. It is just another game for me. It was a long time ago and maybe it toughened me up and maybe it allowed me to enjoy myself and play the way I wanted to play.”
Former St Bede’s High School pupil Pilkington started playing football for Darwen side Akzo Juniors and, after not being kept on by Rovers, studied National Diploma Football Studies at Myerscough College.
He combined playing for Atherton Colleries in the North West Counties League with playing Sunday League football with his friends and admits it helped him fall back in love with the game.
“I was a centre forward when I was a kid and I loved Shearer,” said Pilkington. “He scored hundreds of goals for Blackburn so he was an easy hero. He was a fantastic player. I had his poster on the wall and everything.
“I grew up as a Blackburn Rovers fan and, like anyone, I wanted to play for the team I supported. Obviously I wanted to make it at Rovers because it was the team I supported and the team my family supported.
“I went there aged about 11 and they told me I wouldn’t be getting a contract when I was 16 and that I could go out on trial.
“But I just went out and played with my friends and started enjoying football again. Things went from there.
“It probably helped me that I played men’s football at that age as well. That was great because I was getting kicked by all these old men who had been on a night out the night before. It helped toughen me up.
“I was just enjoying my football. I was playing with my friends and enjoying it. When I was at Blackburn Rovers it wasn’t as enjoyable because it was all regimented and you had to play a certain way. I didn’t enjoy it but I went to play non-league and played the way I wanted to started to enjoy it.
“That is what I am still doing today so it was probably a good thing that it happened to me.”
A hat-trick for Atherton Colleries against FC United in 2006 proved the start of his long road to the top as Stockport quickly swooped to give him his second chance. Boy has he taken it.
He has since scored at Wembley to help the Hatters to promotion, earned a move to Huddersfield Town and – despite suffering a badly broken leg last year – is now hot property in the Premier League.
He said: “It is the best league in the world and it is what every kid dreams of doing. It is great especially after breaking my leg I maybe thought it wasn’t going to happen. But I have got myself fit and been working really hard.
“I think my family will want Norwich to win even though they are Blackburn fans, especially because they are not enjoying what is happening at Blackburn at the minute.”
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