‘I confronted Robinho for Arsenal – now I’m non-league ace looking an FA Cup upset’
When an 18-year-old Gavin Hoyte was advised he can be making his Premier League debut in opposition to Robinho, it’s protected to say he was somewhat shocked.
In 2008, the versatile defender had been knocking on the door of the Arsenal first crew along with his spectacular performances in coaching and the youth groups. He simply by no means would have anticipated a brand new cash City facet boasting the Real Madrid and Brazilian legend to be ready on the opposite facet.
Fast ahead to the current day, Hoyte, 33, is popping out for National League South facet Maidstone United. However, the previous Trinidad and Tobago worldwide now has the prospect to be a part of FA Cup historical past when he and his non-league team-mates tackle League One giants Stevenage.
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The setting for his or her bid so as to add themselves to the litany of nice FA Cup shocks would be the Gallagher Stadium. Maidstone’s Kent-based house is made up of 4 small stands that present the right circumstances for havoc on the pitch.
It’s fully totally different to the Etihad Stadium, the place Hoyte’s one and solely Premier League look passed off. “I remember just going out there, seeing Robinho and thinking about what he’d done to other defenders, hoping he wouldn’t do that to me. But I was full of confidence and I was ready,” Hoyte said in a 2021 interview with Planet Football.
At the time, Hoyte was one of three Arsenal prodigies battling for a place in the first team. Hoyte, Armand Traore and Jack Wilshere were brought aside during training and given one last douse of motivation. “When the chance came there were a few injuries and that was it, I was in,” Hoyte added.
Do you suppose Maidstone could cause an enormous FA Cup shock? Let us know within the remark part beneath
(Image: PA)
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“I remember the training session before the game, one of the coaches said to Armand Traore, Jack Wilshere and me: ‘One of you is going to make your debut, who do you think it is?’ Everyone thought it was either Jack or Traore, no one thought it was me, and then he said: ‘It’s going to be you, Gavin’.
“I don’t think anyone thought too much of it, but then we were doing shape work and I was in there, and I just had to be ready.” Before the sport, Hoyte was at all times concerned with first-team coaching. His weekly preparation for dealing with stars like Robinho was attempting to shackle the likes of Cesc Fabregas and Robin van Persie in coaching.
However, Hoyte’s debut was a day to neglect for the Gunners, who had been torn aside by City. Robinho bought on the scoresheet both facet of a purpose from Stephen Ireland and a late effort from a younger and rising Daniel Sturridge.
(Image: Getty Images)
Opportunities on the Gunners proceeded to dry up at terrifying tempo. Hoyte would by no means make one other Premier League look for Arsenal and would solely get pleasure from three extra matches within the first crew – all of which passed off within the League Cup. His last look was a shock 2-0 loss to Burnley within the quarter-finals of the competitors.
Over the subsequent 5 years, he can be loaned to Watford, Brighton, Lincoln City and Wimbledon, earlier than he moved to Dagenham and Redbridge on a free switch in 2012. Via transient spells at Gillingham, Barnet, Eastleigh and Dagenham once more, he joined Maidstone in 2019 and has by no means appeared again.
