New signing Steve Seddon joined the U’s yesterday and joined in his first training session today as the U’s prepare for the new season. The 23-year-old left back looks a fine athlete but that should be no surprise given that sport seems to run in his family.
Steve’s brother Zak is currently in Japan waiting to compete in the 3000m steeplechase at the Olympics and little brother Steve couldn’t be prouder:
“There are three of us. Zak is the oldest then there’s Matt then me. We were always competitive as kids, playing football against each other, running, any sport. We did all the sports and as the little one it was great for me because they were bigger and stronger: now it’s different. Put me running against him and I will be struggling and he will be chilling, but if he came and trained with us he’d be struggling! It’s two very different things; he has that fitness and endurance, that’s 95% of his event.
“My dad was into athletics and is my brother’s coach. But none of my family are allowed to go out there to watch. We’ll all be watching the TV though for the first heat: it’s at 1am on 30th July. He is in a holding camp at the moment for training and then will move into the Olympic Village closer to his event
“It’s a such a tough event. I enjoy watching it for my brother but I think I’d be crawling out of the water jump if I did it myself! But that works both ways: Zak played football growing up and is left-footed like me but he’s not great! I’m sure he’ll have something to say about me saying that though!
“We are very proud of him. It’s four years, five really this time, where you sacrifice so much. There are World Championships, European Championships, but the Olympics is the ultimate isn’t it? To go and compete is fantastic; he is always going to be able to say he is an Olympic athlete.
“But like I said, we are all very competitive and he’s not going there just to say he went. He’s going out there to give it everything he has got.
"That's what I try to do every game too. I feel fit and ready to get started. There is plenty of work to be done on the training pitches before our season starts. I can't wait to get out there, be involved in the friendlies next week and be part of what we all hope is going to be a successful season here."