Sholing’s FA Vase victory may sound like a surprise inspiration for one of football’s top young talents but watching his uncles win at Wembley helped power Levi Colwill’s rise to prominence.
The 20-year-old centre-back is on the brink of making his senior England debut this month as an “amazing year” continues for the homegrown Chelsea star.
Colwill flourished on loan at Brighton and went on to win the Under-21 European Championship over the summer, before signing a new long-term deal and making his debut for the club he joined aged eight.
Chelsea is his team but Southampton is his home, where the defender’s family ties to local non-league side Sholing have left a lasting impact.
Watching the team was a regular part of his childhood and the pinnacle arrived in 2014, when he was mascot as uncles Barry and Byron Mason won the FA Vase against West Auckland Town.
Asked if that day at Wembley made him realise this is what he wanted to do, Colwill said: “Definitely.
“I remember just waking out with them, feeling the nerves. I saw how serious they were and I remember the celebrations after.
“It was just like a family thing with their team. Everyone was a family and I just love that feeling.
“So being a little boy, I remember walking out and looking up and thinking ‘I’ve got to be here one day, I’ve got to play here – I can’t let my uncles play here and not me’. Hopefully one day that happens with England.”
Colwill left Chelsea training early that day in time to get to Wembley, where he changed into his Sholing kit and waited in the tunnel for his uncles to walk past and lead him out.
He described the 1-0 win as “one of the best feelings ever” and nine years on the ties to Sholing remain as strong as ever.
Uncle Barry may have retired but Byron Mason is still going strong and is closing in on 700 games for Sholing, where Dan – the youngest of the Mason brothers – is scoring for fun.
“I still go there whenever I can,” Colwill said. “I haven’t been this season yet, but I went a few times last season.
“I like going to their ground or even I like going on away days. If I have a chance and they all love me, so it’s good.”
Colwill will have to miss at least two more Sholing games due to England’s Euro 2024 qualifier against Ukraine on Saturday and the friendly at Scotland three days later.
The defender joked he is “going to have to play catch up” when he returns from an international break that many expect to see the highly-regarded defender make his senior debut in.
Colwill has earned praise for his confidence and composure on the ball, but it has not always been that way, describing himself as “very erratic” up until as recently as three years ago.
The defender did not want the ball and said “if it came to me I’m booming it first time”, but something clicked and the internal drive for more has powered his development.
“I think I’m hard on myself, definitely,” Colwill said. “You know, after games if you had a tough day it’ll play on my head for the rest of the night, and I think I’m someone that has to watch the game back as soon as possible.
“Because if not, I’ll just be laying there trying to sleep and I’m just remembering things. It’s not a nice feeling.
“But I think that’s where I push myself. I think not many people can get to me with what they say or anything, so I have to get myself there and I think it works the best.
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“So, when I’ve told myself ‘you’ve had a bad day at the office’, I feel like I have something to prove against myself.
“Like ‘you’re better than this’ and I think that’s why I’ve done so well so far.”
Asked if he brings works home with him, he said: “Yeah, 100 per cent because, you know, football’s my life. It’s my life, as simple as that, so being at home I can’t switch off.
“I haven’t learned how to switch off yet, anyway, so, yeah, I’m always trying to improve at home whenever I can.”
Bologna 3-3 Juventus: Bianconeri hit back in Motta's job interview
Juventus scored three goals in eight minutes to complete a remarkable comeback and secure a 3-3 draw against Serie A's surprise package Bologna on Monday.
The Bianconeri, who sacked Massimiliano Allegri last week, endured a nightmare start as Riccardo Calafiori and Santiago Castro propelled hosts Bologna into a 2-0 lead within 11 minutes.
Matters got worse for Bianconeri interim boss Paolo Montero when Calafiori struck again eight minutes into the second half to put Bologna, coached by reported Juve target Thiago Motta, into a 3-0 lead, with the defender chipping the ball over goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny.
Yet Federico Chiesa's 76th-minute effort kickstarted a stunning turnaround, with Arkadiusz Milik's free-kick soon after teeing up a grandstand finale.
Kenan Yildiz was the player who sealed the draw, as Juve hit back against their potential next coach.
The result left third-placed Bologna level on 68 points with Juve in fourth before the final matchday.
Data Debrief: Three down? No problems
For the first time in their history, Juve avoided defeat in a Serie A game in which they had been at least three goals behind.
Chiesa was key to their comeback. Bologna are the team that the Italy international has scored the most league goals against in his career (seven in 11 matches).
Liverpool offer 'difficult to ignore', says Klopp's replacement Slot
Arne Slot said it was "not an easy decision" to leave Feyenoord, but ultimately he could not turn down the Liverpool job.
Liverpool finally confirmed Slot as Jurgen Klopp's successor on Monday.
Klopp signed off on his nine-year tenure in charge of Liverpool with a 2-0 win over Wolves on Sunday.
The German started an "Arne Slot" chant during his leaving speech at Anfield, and a day later, the Reds officially announced the 45-year-old Dutchman's appointment, subject to a work permit.
Slot led Feyenoord to the Eredivisie title during his time in charge, as well as the KNVB Beker, while they also reached the Europa Conference League final in 2022.
Speaking to Feyenoord's official website, Slot said: "It is certainly not an easy decision to close the door behind you at a club where you have experienced so many wonderful moments and worked successfully with so many wonderful people.
"But as a sportsman, an opportunity to become a head coach in the Premier League, at one of the biggest clubs in the world, is difficult to ignore.
"At the same time, we understand very well that working at a club like Liverpool is a special and unique opportunity for him. With that in mind, we started the conversation to see if we could find a solution together, and in the end we succeeded."
Feyenoord beat Excelsior in Feyenoord's final match in charge on Sunday.
Hojlund form gives Man Utd 'luxury problem' for FA Cup final, says Ten Hag
Rasmus Hojlund's return to form presents a "luxury problem" for Manchester United ahead of this weekend's FA Cup final against Manchester City, says Erik ten Hag.
Hojlund came off the bench to score United's second goal as they rounded off their Premier League campaign with a 2-0 win over Brighton and Hove Albion on Sunday, having also netted in last week's 3-2 victory over Newcastle United.
He finished his debut Premier League season with 10 goals, becoming the youngest player to reach double figures in 2023-24 (21 years, 105 days old as of Sunday).
Hojlund has battled injury problems and dips in form throughout the campaign, and in his absence, Ten Hag has often opted to deploy Bruno Fernandes as a false nine.
The Portugal international started United's last two matches in that position, and Ten Hag says he has plenty to think about as he prepares to name his cup final lineup.
"It is not a dilemma, it is a luxury problem," Ten Hag said.
"I think both formations can be a success because, as you know, we can play with the set-up from the Etihad, where we were a threat with Bruno's movement in behind.
"With Rasmus Hojlund in behind and in form, it is absolutely something we have to consider.
"Let's have a thought, but let's not say we only need 11 players. In a tough final, you need a bench as well."
Hojlund failed to score in his first 15 Premier League matches before ending his drought against Aston Villa on Boxing Day, though he did score five times in United's unsuccessful Champions League campaign before Christmas.
He has 16 goals across all competitions this term, which Ten Hag sees as a good effort when taking his fitness problems into account.
"It could always be better, but don't forget he had three injuries this season," Ten Hag said.
"He came in with an injury and missed the start, then he got injured before winter, and then got another injury after winter.
"Every time that has broken his rhythm. If you score 16 goals for a first season, it is okay, and remember it is also not over. We have the final too."
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