England beach soccer goalkeeper Tommy Jackson – who lives in Newport – is set to make his 100th appearance in a Three Lions shirt tomorrow (Saturday).
Tommy (if selected) will be featuring between the sticks for England in their World Cup qualifier against Spain in Malaga.
The Isle of Wight beach soccer international – who first donned the England gloves aged just 16 – will hopefully be playing his 100th game for his country at the age of just 25.
While on the Isle of Wight, Tommy plays centreback for Whitecroft & Barton Sports. He has previously appeared for Cowes Sports.
Tommy told FIFA:
““It would be unbelievable to go to a World Cup.
“I’ve been playing for England since I was 16, and we’ve never got out of the group stage in the qualifiers. It would be good for us boys, having been together for so many years, and then doing something like getting to a World Cup. To make the World Cup would be a dream.”
In total, 21 nations are heading to Cadiz to try and make it to the Seychelles next May. Tommy sees Spain, Italy and Portugal as the favourites to lift the World Cup next year.
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Tommy says of England’s chances against Spain:
“We’re fairly confident.
“Our last competitive game was against Spain in the Neom Cup, and we actually beat them with 6 players, so I think they are more on the side of thinking they need to ‘get revenge’ on us.
“We’re in the mindset of feeling very confident because we beat them in Saudi Arabia coming in as the underdogs.
“The boys are fired up for it. Spain is the big one.”
Tommy says of England’s chances of qualifying:
“We want to come 2nd rather than 3rd, so we don’t face the top side of the other group, and then it would give us a good chance in the Round of 16.
“I think it’s doable for us this year with the side we’ve got, and the new players that have come in.
“I think we’ve got a good chance.”
Tommy explains how he became a beach soccer keeper:
“Originally, I wasn’t a goalkeeper, and on grass I’m not a goalkeeper.
“When I was back on the Isle of Wight with my youth team, our goalkeeper left, and the position went into rotation. I went in goal, made a good couple of saves, and then just kept going in every week. Then, I went in goal for beach soccer and that’s when I got spotted – it just stuck.”
Tommy is 1 of several players who either live or come from the Isle of Wight in the England team. Cam O’Rourke and Scott Lawson are still based on the Island; Tom O’Neil, Mitch Day and James Temple have moved away but originate from here.
