ℹ️ PERS. INFORMATION

⚽️ CLUB HISTORY

Club	Years
Morecambe FC	Youth
Preston North End FC	Youth –

🎙️ INTERVIEW

Introduce yourself…

Hi, my name is Olly Tonkin and I am a centre half for Preston North End.

How would you describe your playing style to someone who hasn’t seen you play?

I would say I am a ball playing centre half but also someone who is prepared to put their body on the line to stop shots and defend.

Are there any current centre-backs you study or try to learn from?

I would definitely say Van Dijk because he is a great centre half to watch at the highest level.

How do you handle pressure, especially during difficult moments in a game?

I think just always telling myself in my head to stay switched on helps me stay in the game and communicating to my teammates.

How did the move to Morecambe FC come about?

At the time I was playing grassroots and being mentored by Kenny Wharton but I then had a 8 week trial at Sunderland which didn’t work out. Then after the trial a man who was head of recruitment at Morecambe at the time Andrew Ferguson from Newcastle so he’d already known about me at grassroots level so after my trial at Sunderland he fortunately gave me a trial at Morecambe which then lead to me signing my early scholarship.

What did your time at Morecambe U18 teach you about being a defender?

I think being at the age of 15 when I was breaking into the 18s squad I think it taught me a lot about standards by being consistent in my performances, continuing to learn more each game I played and taking my chances when they came.

Olly, What were your first impressions when you arrived at Preston North End?

My first impressions when I arrived at Preston North End were really positive because straight away you could feel the standards around the place through the intensity of training and the professionalism from the staff.

What did you notice about the intensity of training compared to your previous environment?

I think the environment here challenged me immediately which I have enjoyed and it was made clear that if you work hard and apply yourself every day there is a real pathway to make a career in this game.

What does success look like for you as a professional footballer?

For me, I think success is about becoming the best version of myself possible through working hard everyday, learning from the people around me and staying focused.

What personal targets have you set for yourself this season?

At the start of the season, I set myself a target of playing for the 21s which I have completed so the next step is making my pro debut.