Picture: Manchester City
West Cumbrian goalkeeper James Trafford was in the Manchester City side which beat Arsenal 2-0 at Wembley to win the Carabao Cup for the fifth time under Per Guardiola.
Trafford rejoined City in the summer from Burnley expecting to be the new number one following Ederson’s departure.
But City signed Italian international Gianluigi Donnarumma and Trafford had to be his understudy in the Premier League.
But he has played in the Cup matches this season and had an important role against Arsenal when City made a slow start.
He had to make three big saves at 0-0 which kept his side on terms and in the second-half they took control to win with two goals from Nico O’Reilly.
The son of a Greysouthen farmer, and a keen Workington Reds fan, Trafford was announced in the larger than normal England squad chosen by manager Tomas Tuchel on Friday.
Speaking to Sky Sports after the game the 23-year-old Trafford was asked about the saves and he replied: “Yeah they were obviously big saves because they happened quite early on in the game, but I can’t really remember them because they were quite quick, but yeah, I’m just happy to play my part in it, and then Nico scored two, which is brilliant from him.
“This moment, means a lot to me. Four or five years ago when they beat Spurs to win it, I think I was fourth or fifth choice, and I always imagined that I would win it won day. It’s an incredibly good season, because all my family and friends are here, and it’s a long way from north west Cumbria.”
He was asked about getting the chance to start in the final and responded: “It means a lot to have the manager’s faith, and it’s a testament to how I believed in myself, and how I acted in training, when I’ve been brought in for club games. Every time that I play I just give it my best shot.”