James Trafford talks about City life, loan moves and plenty more in the latest Official Man City Podcast...
Trafford, who had loan spells with Accrington and Bolton before leaving City for Burnley, admits he would always encourage younger keepers to gain experience with loan moves.
The youngster’s reputation quickly grew, first with Accrington but particularly with Bolton where he made 67 appearances over an 18-month period, before his permanent move from parent club City to Burnley in 2023.
“I remember being in the squad for the Champions League final against Chelsea during the COVID season, and three weeks later I was running around Formby beach on loan with Accrington Stanley,” recalled Trafford.
“The manager would walk off into the distance and we’d be told we all had to run up to where he was, so everything was different, I was 18 and just a young lad.
“We’d train on a cricket ground in pre-season with no marked lines and you either enjoy it or you don’t, but I loved it because you are growing as a person all the time.
“I try to push loans for younger lads because you learn so much.
“When I was at City during my first spell,, our team was that good, we used to batter everyone because our age group was just ridiculous.
“It’s a very different world here - I was at Carlisle until I was 12 and then at City until I was 18, so to go to Accrington after that was a real learning curve.”
Trafford admits being taken back, somewhat, by even the simplest of gestures when he first came on trial to City.
Fresh from life in a small West Cumbrian village where his family own a farm, Manchester City felt a glamorous step up for the highly-rated young keeper.
“So I’m 12 and had just come out of farming!” he smiled.
“I came on trial here and I remember being asked if I was thirsty and whether I wanted a bottle of water and it was like ‘wow, a bottle of water?’ - then I was given some new gloves and I was thinking, ‘It’s a bit mad this!’ because I used to only get new gloves for Christmas and they’d be expected to last three monhs!
“It’s a very different world here, this club is no like other in terms of how good it is. I had some great coaches who helped give me great life lessons over the years as well as great coaching.”
And reflecting on his superb display in the 2-1 win over Arsenal in the Carabao Cup final, he says: “”It was amazing and a brilliant day with a great build-up, especially with it being Arsenal.
“We’d had a tough couple of weeks so it was just a fantastic experience.
I” just enjoy playing when I get the chance and do everything I can do to help the team win.”
Listen to James on the latest Official Man City Podcast on the Man City App from 18:00 (UK) 7 May.