Interview with... Terlochan 'Toch' Singh
One of the most important positions of the modern game is that of a central midfielder. Their many jobs can include dictating the tempo and flow of a game, distribution of balls to attackers and also to assist defenders when needed. In the case of Hanwell Town’s experienced centre midfielder, Terlochan Singh or Toch as he is also known, this no exception. We talked to him about his career so far, the CONIFA world cup and the all-
important ‘Big Question’.
CAREER SO FAR AND BACKGROUND
30-year-old ‘Toch’ has played for a selection of clubs including Newbury Forest, Sporting Bengal, Tilbury, Glebe, Basildon United, Romford and, of course, Hanwell Town.
Jacob Welch, JW: Did you have any experience inside a youth set up? Or did you just start playing football through non-league?
Terlochan ‘Toch’ Singh, TS: Through non-league.
JW: Do you think that by coming through Non-League you learnt more about the game than, say if you had come through an academy?
TS: No wouldn’t say more. Teaches you different things for sure.
JW: What kind of things, would you say?
TS: It is a different group dynamic. Pressures of personal and working life. Footballing wise the quality of coaching/game play is nowhere near academy level.
JW: You have played for a plethora of clubs, what club stands out as having the biggest impact on your career?
TS: Such a tough question. Tilbury and Hanwell Town will always be the best dressing rooms I have ever been in. I feel we would have won the league this year at Hanwell which would have been my highest club level achievement. At Sporting and Glebe, I was Captain so they helped me grow as a player.
TIME AT SPORTING BENGAL
JW: Let's talk about your time at Sporting Bengal, if you wouldn't mind, with it being a relatively new club what time period were you at the club?
TS: I was only there for a year. 2015/16. Managed by Anwar Uddin (first Asian player to win conf and league 2). He brought a real professional approach to the club. The club was raw and gave lots of local young talent a chance. I was 25 at the time and a senior player.
JW: You touched on Anwar Uddin there, he is currently assistant manager of Aldershot
Town, what was it like playing underneath him and what was his ‘footballing philosophy’?
TS: Yeah, he has become a very close friend. He is a great coach. Because he has been there and done it then you respect his word even more. He is all about getting the right blend and characters in the team. A team of men. He is very good at adapting his sessions in preparation for a game.
JW: What was it like to be captain at Sporting? With this being your first captaincy, how did you adapt to the role, in your opinion?
TS: Took it in my stride. I always prepare right. Always try to lead by example. But now I was doing extras. Getting to games earlier. Due to the age and background of the team I always had spares of everything (shin pads etc).
JW: They do say that preparation is key!
THIS SEASON WITH HANWELL TOWN
JW: Moving on to this season with Hanwell, we now know that unfortunately this season will be null and void, but despite this heart-breaking news for the club, how had your season been going. Both personally and in the dressing room?
TS: Massively heart-breaking. Even if we didn’t win it or succeed in the playoffs the closure would have added to the experience and make even more memories. It would have rivalled my biggest achievement of getting a silver medal in CONIFA world cup 2016. My season started very slow. Fractured my metatarsal first session of pre-season. Came back in September into a team top of the table and the Skipper playing in the same position and well. Rotted the bench for 2019. Coming on to sure things up. First game of 2020 I started and started every game since. Had been playing very well. So personally, very frustrating for the season to come to a stop. As a group we knew we had something special. The togetherness and group dynamics were unreal. Again, understand the decision but there will never be a closure
JW: I am really sorry to hear about your injury, thankfully you have recovered. Do you think that having such a good locker room behind you helps you comeback from an injury somewhat easier, knowing that they have your back all the way?
TS: I can’t talk from personal experience as I had only met the boys on that first session. I have also been very fortunate not to have had any other serious injuries. I can definitely say from speaking to other people it has a massive effect. Being in the same WhatsApp group. Attending nights out. It is a huge motivation
CONIFA 2016 TOURNAMENT
JW: You also mentioned your runners up medal from the 2016 CONIFA World Cup. How did playing in that competition feel? and how frustrating was it to only miss out on the silverware on penalties?
TS: Was the best experience of my life. Going to Abkhazia, the whole place bought into it. Seeing how much it meant to them hosting it. In a 5,000-seater stadium they had double the capacity. Fans sitting on the steps. Behind the goal held back by security. When we lost to the hosts, they had a national holiday the next day. Being 1-0 up with 2mins to go and then 3-1 up in pens, the defeat was heart-breaking. Absolutely gutted and still think about it. Personally, I had a very good tournament. After a change in formation after the 2nd game I moved to right back. I played well and gutted I didn’t get to take a penalty. We had no professionals in our team and other nations took us lightly which played into our hands. Team came out and attacked us allowing us to punish them on the counter. This was the exact opposite in London 2018. Teams respected us. Sat in and being one of the favourites was difficult to adapt. We underperformed.
JW: Congratulations on your success in that tournament, being able to adapt quickly to play a different position is a hard skill to utilise, but you sound like you did just that!
JW: Nearly finished, for you personally what do you hope to achieve in the near future?
TS: Thank you appreciate it. I turn 31 in October so can only expect to be playing at a level and earning good money for the next 4/5 years tops. I just want to compete and enjoy my football. You are long time retired so I will make the most of it. Literally love football and what non-league brings to my life. Friends, routine, healthy lifestyle. Aim is for some silverware whether at Hanwell or elsewhere.
THE BIG QUESTION
JW: Final question, if you could have dinner with 3 footballing people, whether it be players, coaches, physios etc, who would they be and why?
TS: Great question. David Beckham - absolute legend. Mental strength ridiculous as a kid and then after 1998 World Cup. Sir Alex Ferguson - rebuilt 3 different teams and ran that club from top to bottom. Would be a fountain of knowledge Lionel Messi - In my opinion the best player to ever grace the game. I love Ronaldo but this guy is the complete player.
JW: Some great answers there Toch, thank you for your time.
TS: No problem at all. Good luck with it all. No doubt you will be a success. Let me know if you need anything else 👍🏽
JW: Thank you for the kind words. Cheers Toch.
コメント