It was great meeting up with Ryan Huddart the Boreham Wood goalkeeper who has a Cypriot connection he tells us why.

Huddart, who has represented England at U16 and U17 level, and England C .

Huddart earned his first England C cap against Estonia last November in what is proving to be a successful first season in Non-League football.

He joined National League Wood after leaving Premier League giants Arsenal, where he’d learned his trade from the age of 15.

Legendary boss Arsene Wenger twice named him on the bench in the Champions League but, despite a short loan at Eastleigh, this is the first campaign of regular football – and he says it’s vital for his long-term career.

“You probably need 50 to 100 games behind you and it’s where you have to go to get them,” Huddart said. “Luckily for me Boreham Wood have given me that opportunity to play week-in, week-out and it’s been fantastic – the best thing that could have happened to me.

“ moment, Jordan Pickford. He’s played in the National League on loan – it just shows games mean everything.”

Huddart says he will forever owe Boreham Wood and boss Luke Garrard for taking a chance on him as he looks to mix his Gunners grounding with first team football. It was an upbringing that saw him work alongside the best in the business – including Czech Republic international Petr Cech.

“He’s always helpful,” he said. “To train with him for three seasons and be so close to how he deals with ups and downs – he’s so level headed.

Ryan Huddart has several Cypriot friends and listening to my LGR Sports programme 8.30am  Monday and Friday that i do with Michael Janes.