Like so many in this Ipswich Town squad, Luke Woolfenden has his own rollercoaster journey tale when it comes to reaching the Premier League.
Having joined his hometown club at the relatively late age of 12, the laid-back defender was loaned out to National League club Bromley for his first taste of men's football. At that stage, he felt ready to return and play in the Championship and was bitterly disappointed that Paul Hurst sent him out on loan to League Two club Swindon instead.
Hurst didn't last long, Town were relegated and Woolfenden returned to become a key player for the Blues in League One. In 2020, such was his form, that he was linked with a move to then newly-promoted Premier League club Sheffield. Paul Lambert scoffed, 'Three million doesn't even buy you a flake!'
Woolfenden stayed, but eventually found himself in and out of the team as Lambert rotated and Town got stuck in the third-tier quicksands. Paul Cook arrived and decided that a clear out was required. "I was training with the Under 23s most of the time so I was nailed on to go," admits Woolfenden. "I was waking up most mornings and wanting to be anywhere else other than Ipswich."
Then came new American owners and the appointment of Kieran McKenna. Woolfenden became a firm fixture in the team again. Back-to-back promotions were achieved. The tears and the beers flowed for the local lad.
Luke Woolfenden celebrates promotion to the Premier League.Luke Woolfenden celebrates promotion to the Premier League. (Image: Ross Halls)
Which brings us onto this season.
Decent money was spent on summer centre-back signings Dara O'Shea (£12m) and Jacob Greaves (£15m). As a result, Woolfenden has started nine out of the 28 Premier League games played so far, plus three more in an FA Cup run, wearing the armband twice.
For my money, he's been very unfortunate not to play more. He may not have a big price tag attached, but the 26-year-old's calmness on the ball and ability to read danger makes him well-suited to the top-flight.
"I've really enjoyed it," he says. "I think I've played well in the majority of games that I've played in. I think the boss echoes that thought as well.
"The challenge is good, I think I've stepped up to it well enough and I'm enjoying it.
Luke Woolfenden has started eight Premier League games this season.Luke Woolfenden has started nine Premier League games this season. (Image: Ross Halls)
"To get to 200 games for the club was a nice milestone to reach. For it to have come in the Premier League was unreal. It's not something I was expecting to reach given there was a time it looked like I was on the way out.
"It's something to be proud of and I'm looking forward to many more."
A 4-0 home loss to Newcastle just before Christmas led to McKenna switching to a back three. That opened the door for Woolfenden to start four league games in a row, including the 2-0 home win against Chelsea.
"I've always loved playing around the Christmas period. The pitches are getting wet, the ball starts to sit and the games are just back-to-back-to-back," he says.
"To go back in for the Arsenal game away was nice because it had been a long time since I'd played. I think I played the next three or four in succession and did well in them. It was nice to be back out there with the boys."
Luke Woolfenden had a headed equaliser against Tottenham ruled out for offside recently.Luke Woolfenden had a headed equaliser against Tottenham ruled out for offside recently. (Image: Steve Waller)
On the Chelsea win, he said: "Under the lights at Portman Road is always special. I've always enjoyed those nights here, the atmosphere and the feeling is really special.
"Going into the game we felt really confident about getting a result and we executed what we had to do. It was unbelievable."
During the recent January transfer window, it was reported that several clubs, including Sheffield United and Inter Miami, were interested in Woolfenden.
"There's interest most windows. I think that's part and parcel of being a footballer," he says. "The Inter Miami one was a bit wide of the mark because otherwise I'm not sure I'd be sitting here! I'd be playing with (Lionel) Messi! So I'm not sure that one was true, but there was certainly interest from elsewhere."
Eventually, Woolfenden, who had been in the final few months of his deal, signed a new contract at Portman Road until 2027.
Luke Woolfenden signed a new contract, until 2027, at the end of January.Luke Woolfenden signed a new contract, until 2027, at the end of January. (Image: Ross Halls)
"I've said numerous times that I love working here under the boss and the coaching staff," he said. "Every session is enjoyable. You don't need to play every game here to improve as a player, whereas at other clubs you might have a bit of a jolly up and just go through the motions. Here we're bang at it every day.
"I've said over the last few years that this is probably the best place to be in the Football League. It's a club that, besides the manager, has a lot of ambition behind it with the owners, with Mark (Ashton), that it's driven to keep this club where it is now. So it was a really good feeling to get the contract done."
Town have three wins and 17 points to their name so far. With 10 games to go, they find themselves six points adrift of safety - effectively seven due to goal difference - with Wolves looking the only side that can be caught.
Is there still belief that the Great Escape can be pulled off?
"Yeah, but mixed with the belief is probably a bit of disappointment," admits Woolfenden. "We've been in the majority of games and it's just moments where, come the end of the season and you're looking back on it, we'll be kicking ourselves.
"Take the Spurs game recently. We're bang in it. If I'm onside (for the disallowed equaliser) or if their third goal doesn't deflect off me then we're still in the game. We end up losing 4-1 though.
"People will say 'that's the level', but we came off the pitch feeling disappointed because the goals that they scored are goals that get scored in the Championship, League One, League Two. That's not 'the level', that's us shooting ourselves in the foot.
"We've just got to forget that now though and go full steam into the last games and see what happens."
Woolfenden, who was among Town's best performers in the recent FA Cup penalty shootout exit at Nottingham Forest, adds: "We are realistic, but we don't limit ourselves either. We didn't come into the season saying we just want to scrap it and stay up. We wanted to be a competitive team in the league and I think the fans would agree that in 90% of the games we've been competitive. We've been on the disappointing end of a few results, but the spirit of the squad is always going to be there.
"A hundred per cent we still believe we can stay up, otherwise we may as well pack it up and go home. Everyone's on the same page with that. We still believe and we're going to go right to the wire."