RTID met up with loan striker Iain Hume, ahead of the Bournemouth game. Iain has fast become a fans favourite having shown 100% commitment in every game he has featured in.
Iain, tell us how you started in football?
Well I grew up in a Scottish family and football was my dad’s life. I suppose it’s the same as most families over here; it’s the culture so you grow up and do it. We moved over to Canada and my dad forced it on me but I fell in love with it.
You moved over to Canada and became nationalised so is that how you became a Canadian International?
Yes, I moved over there when I was about a year and half years old with my parents, brothers and sisters and we’re all nationalised Canadian citizens.
You started your professional career as a youth player at Tranmere Rovers. How did that come about?
I came across with a youth select team from Toronto, which was basically a bunch of lads put together to showcase their talent. I was 15 at the time in an Under 17s team. We played against England schools, Everton and Tranmere. Tranmere liked what they saw and when they found out I had a British passport; it was a green light for them as they offered me a trial right away. After that I joined the youth set up and progressed to the first team.
What were the highlights at Tranmere as it was your first club?
There were lots!! In my first season at the club we got to the Worthington Cup Final, as it was known then. I got to watch the game against Leicester but unfortunately the team were beaten. I was only 16 years old and later that season I made my debut so that would be my highlight as well as the FA Cup runs that we were part of.
Talking about Tranmere, obviously you played for us against them two weeks ago. It must have felt strange especially as you actually scored the winning goal?
I’ve been asked this a few times and it’s the hardest thing in the world not to celebrate but that was my respect for the club. They brought me over here, gave me my chance in professional football, showed me life and got me to be who I am at the moment. To score a winner in the 93rdminute and not celebrate was a tough thing to do.
The fans there clapped you as you came off so you’re still well thought of there?
Yes, I live two minutes from the ground. My wife’s family are all from there and my kids are too. It’s my home and they [Tranmere fans] know that how fondly I feel for the club. For them to applaud me off the pitch after I’d just scored the winner against them was a great feeling for me as it showed that they care for me as much as I care for them.
When Dean came for you to come in on loan from Preston, was it an easy decision to make?
Yes, like I said when I first started, you look at the team on paper and where they’ve been in the last four/five years and it’s where I want to be. When you look at the lads they’ve got here, it makes it a bit of a no-brainer; this is a side that should be pushing forward again.
What’s it been like with the lads? What are they like to work with?
They’re brilliant! I’ll get a bit of stick for saying that but they made me very welcome when I first came. I’ve been here two months now and it’s not changed. They’re a good group who are quite close together and you can see this in our performances, even when we’re not playing particularly well, everyone is fighting tooth and nail for each other and I think that’s the testament of a good team.
Without detracting from your parent club, what’s different about playing here? Is Dean a different type of coach?
When I spoke to the gaffer before I came to the club, he gave me the chance to train every day, play games and to be able to fight for my spot in the team. That’s what I’m in it for. I’m a footballer, not somebody who should be in the gym or sitting on the sidelines. I want to be involved every week so to get the opportunity to come to a club like this, it was a no-brainer for me and I’m enjoying every minute.
On the pitch you’re a very energetic; you’re all over the field and getting tackles in. Where do you get that energy from?
It’s my game. I can’t afford not to be physical and energetic at my size. I’m 5’ 7” so I’ve got to put myself about and work as hard as I possibly can.
You’ve just played a couple of games for Canada, although they didn’t go as you would have wanted, you did manage to score.
Yes, we should have gone through. We shot ourselves in the foot in this group, stage 3. We should have been through a couple of months ago but we’ve obviously let the country and ourselves down again. It seems to be a broken record. We should have been out of this group but, unfortunately, getting beat 8-1 is a bit of an embarrassment and it’s going to be hard to brush aside.
Is it strange flying over to Canada and playing a group full of American teams?
No, I’ve done that for over ten years now so it’s something I look forward to. As everybody will tell you here, like the gaffer and Cotts, to pull on your country’s shirt is a massive honour. It’s a privilege and I try to make the most of it and do as well as I can. If I’m called up again, I’ll do the exact same thing and give everything.
How do you relax away from football? I know some players play golf but what do you do?
Well, I used to play golf. At the moment I’m on my own in a rented house so I’m away from the wife and kids. It’s tough so I’ve just got to do whatever I can to occupy time. I watch TV series, films and play on PlayStation. I just do whatever I can. It’s hard being away from my family as I’ve never been away from them apart from going to Canada for a few weeks. I’m away every week and I’ve not been home for over a week at this point in time. It’s hard as I’ve always been around my wife, kids and my two dogs but it’s something I’ve got to do. It’s a risk I’ve got to take. At the end of the day I’ve got to play football and my wife knows that and supports me in everything I do.