Gogglebox's Tristan Plummer has claimed he was approached to play for Everton FC.
The reality TV star has established himself as a fan favourite on the popular Channel 4 programme since he first joined the cast in 2016. Tristan commentates on the week's best TV alongside brothers, Tremaine and Twaine, who have become known as "The Three T's".
The 32-year-old is no stranger to the public eye as he was also a professional footballer who previously played for Bristol City. Tristan caught the attention of scouts at a summer tournament and was signed up to the Robins Academy when he was 12-years-old.
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The winger impressed while on the books at Bristol City and the Robins wanted to sign him to his first professional contract as he neared his 17th birthday. However, he said the then League One side had to fend off interest from Premier League giants, Arsenal and Everton, who were also keen on securing his signature.
He told Bristol Live : "The owner came down and he didn't come down for anybody, that's Steve Lansdown. He came down to the training ground and talked to me asking me why is it that I didn't sign on my birthday and I was like 'wow, this owner is a massive guy and he's waiting for me after training just to talk to me.'
"He was always polite and respectful but as a 17-year-old growing up from where I was from and having to make those decisions, it was pretty difficult. I could have gone to two Premier League teams, Everton and Arsenal were interested in me.
"One of the old Everton coaches, Tony Fawthrop was Bristol City's academy director so he knew about me."
Arsenal's interest in Tristan even made the newspaper, but the future Gogglebox star eventually committed his future to Bristol City. However, he failed to break into the first team and was loaned to Luton, Torquay, Hereford and Gillingham before his contract expired in 2010.
He went on to play in Portugal for Portimonense before completing spells at a number of English non-league sides. Tristan said he has no regrets for how his career has panned out.
He said: "I don't regret it because I have two beautiful kids now maybe if I moved away, I wouldn't have had them and now I'm doing other things that I enjoy doing. Maybe I could have been in a better position financially but at the end of the day my happiness is more important, I'm happy and I came to terms with that ages ago. I hold no grudge or resentment towards the manager or club.
"Playing for the academy was the best time of my life. The thing I loved most with City in general, I remember waking up and just having a bus card, life wasn't... I was getting paid £45 a week, having a bus card, I could go anywhere.
"I had a Puma sponsorship and I used to give clothes, boots and footballs to everyone in my neighbourhood. I was in a fortunate position so I didn't take it for granted. Football brings people together. I've only got positive things to say about football."
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