Six Questions: Dan Wallis of Stamford A.F.C
Six Questions with Dan Wallis of Stamford AFC…
23-year old Daniel Wallis is a talented goalkeeper who plays for Stamford AFC in the Northern Premier League Division One Midlands. He has represented Sheffield Wednesday at youth level in the past.
Here, Dan talks about coming up against the likes of Mason Mount and how his current manager Graham Drury has helped him develop on a regular basis, among other things.
Dan Wallis
Goalkeeper
Stamford AFC
“it really helped me to understand what top class was.”
1. ARE THERE ANY GOALKEEPERS WHO YOU LOOK UP TO AND TRY TO BASE YOUR GAME UPON?
“Growing up, I always looked up to goalkeepers such as Joe Hart and the Leicester goalkeepers as I’m a Leicester fan. Watching Kasper Schmeichel at Leicester and some of the things he did was unbelievable, it really helped me to understand what top class was.”
“I’d be a No. 8 box-to-box midfielder...”
2. IF YOU WERE NOT A GOALKEEPER, WHAT OUTFIELD POSITION WOULD YOU HAVE PREFERRED TO PLAY IN?
“If I wasn’t a goalkeeper I’d be a No. 8 box-to-box midfielder. I love a tackle and enjoy getting about the pitch.”
“They had players like Mason Mount and Trevoh Chalobah who were different class.”
3. WHO IS THE HARDEST OPPONENT YOU HAVE COME UP AGAINST IN YOUR CAREER?
“Chelsea! 100% playing against their U18’s when I was a scholar. They had players like Mason Mount and Trevoh Chalobah who were different class. They won 4-0 but I don't think we had a shot.”
“as a coach he knows me inside out”
4. ARE THERE ANY COACHES WHO HAVE PLAYED AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN HELPING YOU REACH WHERE YOU ARE TODAY?
“Justin Bowley, Nicky Weaver, Adam Skinner and Michael Hogg are all goalkeeper coaches who have been pivotal to me when training and the advice they have given me.
“My current manager Graham Drury has been unbelievable for me as a player and as a coach he knows me inside out and is getting the best out of me week in week out.”
“[it] will stay with me for life”
5. WHAT WOULD YOU SAY HAS BEEN YOUR FAVOURITE MEMORY FROM YOUR FOOTBALLING CAREER SO FAR?
“The obvious one for me was signing my pro contract at Sheffield Wednesday which will stay with me for life.”
“for me as a player at that point it was difficult”
6. YOU HAD A STINT IN NORWAY WITH VALDRES FK, HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE THAT EXPERIENCE IN A FOREIGN COUNTRY AND HOW DID THAT HELP YOU GROW AS A PLAYER?
“It was a strange move, I knew the team was struggling and I had just come out of SWFC. I went over planning a new career over there but it didn’t really work out like that.
“The club was full of people with passion but it was misguided and that reflected on the pitch. Things improved for the team when I joined but we still struggled. For the first time in my career at 19 I took charge of my own pathway and left after a month. I couldn’t be part of a team that was content with losing games. This decision wasn’t taken lightly but for me as a player at that point it was difficult.
“I was also without a GK coach and couldn’t see how I would be improving as a player. That showed me that I could and should take assertive action about my career in the future, and to live my career the way I want to and live with the decisions I make knowing I shaped it.”