Andros Townsend made headlines with a shock transfer to Thailand earlier this summer time, however as he informed talkSPORT, it was a protracted highway to get there.
The 13-time England worldwide and common commentator took a not untravelled path to the Turkish Tremendous Lig upon leaving his dwelling nation in 2024, however a yr later he’s miles out of his consolation zone.
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Introduced as a brand new signing for Kanchanaburi Energy F.C. standing upon the historic landmark of the bridge over the River Quay, this was removed from a publicity stunt.
Actually, his path to Thailand it began when his preliminary transfer from Luton to Turkey with Antalyaspor went awry.
“In direction of the again finish of final season I used to be taking part in in Turkey and I hadn’t been paid a number of month’s wage,” he defined.
“The membership mentioned to me ‘you’ll be able to take your wage – however you’re by no means going to play for the membership once more’ so I took the wage.
“I hadn’t performed since March, received a bit annoyed, so in the summertime I mentioned to Marlon [my agent] I don’t care the place I’m going, simply take me someplace good, attention-grabbing and tropical.
“He got here again with one or two choices in Europe however for some motive my intestine was simply actually in regards to the choice in Thailand.”
In Townsend’s case his intestine isn’t a metaphor, however in reality actually the rationale why he’s nonetheless taking part in in the present day on the age of 34.
The previous Tottenham and Crystal Palace winger really wanted a change of weight-reduction plan, not simply way of life, to get him out of an harm disaster at Everton.
“In 2021 I ruptured my ACL, couldn’t get match, took me a few yr and a bit,” he defined.
“Nothing was working and as a final resort I turned to nature and turned to extra different drugs and extra pure meals and inside two or three months I used to be again within the Premier League with Luton.
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“I signed a two-and-a-half yr deal taking part in towards the world’s high sides once more so the change in mentality actually did assist me get again taking part in as a result of there was one stage the place I believed my profession was over on the age of 32.”
For Townsend, venturing outdoors of Europe was one of the best ways to step outdoors of a processed meals weight-reduction plan, however he’s even taken it to what many within the western world would think about excessive lengths, consuming hen ft as a snack.
“That’s why I’m right here,” he mentioned with fun. “The very first thing I looked for after I received right here was the hen ft.
“It’s fairly an enormous factor in Asia and Thailand so I managed to seek out it as quickly as I touched down.”
Persevering with on his new lifestyle, he mentioned: “It’s a stripped again way of life, there’s a farmer’s market all over the place you look.
“There’s pure meals, pure produce and it’s a very enjoyable way of life and for my change of focus in the previous couple of years it’s an ideal place for me to return and play soccer for nonetheless lengthy it’s.”
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Each workforce Andros Towsend has performed for
- Tottenham Hotspur (2000-2016)
- Yeovil City (Mortgage – 2009)
- Leyton Orient (Mortgage – 2009)
- MK Dons (Mortgage – 2010)
- Ipswich City (Mortgage – 2010)
- Watford (Mortgage – 2011)
- Millwall (Mortgage – 2011)
- Leeds (Mortgage – 2012)
- Birmingham (Mortgage – 2012)
- QPR (Mortgage – 2013)
- Newcastle (2016)
- Crystal Palace (2016-2021)
- Everton (2021-2023)
- Luton City (2023-2024)
- Antalyaspor (2024-2025
- Kanchanaburi Energy (Current)
Nonetheless, it isn’t simply the meals that stripped again, but in addition Thai soccer itself, as Townsend came upon with hilarious outcomes after his first bathe along with his new workforce.
He recalled: “There was a match yesterday, I wasn’t concerned however I went to look at and after my bathe there was no towel, I needed to dry myself with a sock.
“That in all probability tells you all the things you should learn about the place Thai soccer is in the meanwhile.
“I used to be anticipating that I might need to take my very own boots or tools however I genuinely thought a towel could be one of many fundamentals the membership would convey, however no, lesson discovered.”
Townsend is but to debut for his new aspect – the sixteenth membership of his life – however he can see himself sticking round, even with a burgeoning media profession.
“I’m at a stage in my life the place I’ve received nothing to show to anybody,” he mentioned.
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“I’ve achieved all the things I wished to realize and extra and a few folks get to my age and assume ‘I don’t need to take that supply as a result of it’s weird, it is a shock, it is a fall from grace’, however I actually don’t care what folks say or assume.
“This chance actually excited me. I get to dwell an incredible life and do what I really like daily as effectively, which is taking part in soccer. I get to mix the 2 and for this reason I’m right here.
“I had an incredible profession in England financially and success sensible so it’s not about proving something.
“It is about coming right here and experiencing a brand new tradition, a brand new approach of taking part in, a brand new customary, so I’m actually excited, that is what’s conserving me going, that I’m making an attempt new issues.
“By many consultants I used to be predicted to need to retire by the age of 32 on account of my accidents so I’m on borrowed time, however my physique is feeling superb so I’ll go so long as I nonetheless get pleasure from it, so long as I really feel I can supply one thing to the sport at no matter stage that’s, so if it’s right down to me I’d like to play one other three or 4 years.”
However what of Townsend’s media appearances? Properly you’ll be able to nonetheless count on to listen to him on talkSPORT, even from his new dwelling in Thailand.
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He defined: “The nice factor is I did the Membership World Cup this summer time, I’m on account of do the World Cup subsequent summer time.
“I’m conserving myself lively sufficient that folks nonetheless hear my voice and bear in mind my voice and see my face, so when that point comes it gained’t be a tough transition for me to go full time within the media if that’s what I need to do.”