Zac Guinan has made the ideal start to his Cheltenham career, scoring ten goals in his first seven matches for the under-18 side. Being one of only ten players who were offered a scholarship to join the side, Zac has made sure to grasp this opportunity with both hands and put it to good use. Being the son of former Cheltenham Town striker Steve Guinan, one could argue that both football and Cheltenham specifically, run through the Guinan family blood. Zac has been answering questions on life as the team target man, and his time at the club.
Tom: How long have you been at Cheltenham?
Zac Guinan: I think I’ve been playing since I was either 9 or 10, so from a very young age. I’ve just worked my way up through the academy, through the ranks and now I’ve got this scholarship.
Tom: And how have you found your time at Cheltenham?
Zac Guinan: It’s been really good from start to finish to be fair. I think the difference from training midweek as you’re a kid to getting a scholarship and starting to play day-in-day-out has been a big change, but it’s been good fun.
Tom: What role would you say you play in the team?
Zac Guinan: I think I’d say I’m more of the focal point of the attack. Get the ball, lay it off, get in the box and try to score. That kind of thing is my position in the team I’d say.
Tom: What’s your relationship with the manager and coaching staff like?
Zac Guinan: It’s a good relationship. Obviously, having watched him coach the older teams and also having played with him for as many years as I have has helped. So, we’re always on good terms. He knows how I want to be played, he knows my playstyle and what I expect from others and what I want to achieve. As well as what I want to achieve as a scholar as well.
Tom: What made you want to pursue football as a full-time career?
Zac Guinan: I think it was probably that my dad played football professionally and he wanted me to go down the same route. So those thoughts have been in my head my entire life and nothing else. I’ve never wanted to do anything else with my life than become a professional footballer.
Tom: What are your aspirations for the future of your football career?
Zac Guinan: To just go as big as I can to be honest. Start off playing as a professional and push to go higher and higher and hopefully end up on the biggest stage possible playing for one of the big teams.
Tom: A bit of a different question now. What would be your dream club to play for?
Zac Guinan: Obviously, you’ve got the big clubs like Barcelona and Real Madrid. But I’d personally say Aston Villa because I support them. So yeah, that’s definitely somewhere that I’d like to go.
Tom Leyland Sports Journalism 