In that time, Foden’s ball has ricocheted off the street curb and over the fence onto the immaculately green grass of the Etihad, and as he leads us towards the walls and wheelie bins that served as his makeshift goals, there’s something quite pure about seeing this Premier League star transition back into just another teenager bouncing his ball down the pavement. Foden has been paving his way at City since 2009, and now that he’s found himself part of Pep Guardiola’s first team set up with a long-term contract under his belt, his future is looking nothing but a rich vein of blue.
Foden is a starlet who can serve as an example that young players can make it through and find their way into the first team, proving that it doesn’t matter whether you’re from Sevilla, Sao Paulo, or Stockport; if you’re good enough, you’re good enough. He’s taken his chances at every juncture this season, notching goals and assists in the process.
Speaking to SoccerBible Magazine Issue 12: ‘Coming Through’, he explains about the place where it all began: “It means everything for people around here. Stockport County is a big part of the community, and a lot of people will go watch them play. It’s all one big family here. The place means a lot to me. I think football is one of the most watched sports in the world, let alone in Manchester. Everyone is either always talking about the game, playing it, or watching it here.”
Leaving home to move closer to the Manchester City training setup and being put through school, it’s been a relationship of humble yet heroic development for this young player. His words are powerful and genuine when he says, “It’s always a special moment when you put on that shirt. I do feel like I’m representing the people from around here, and I think many of them look up to me. It’s good to have a chance to show what you can achieve in life if you put your mind to it. It’s special again when you step out onto the pitch at the Etihad. If you’re playing well, you can hear the fans singing, “He’s one of our own.”. That makes you feel lucky.”
Photography by Ross Cooke and Martyn Ewoma. Styling by Sam Carder.