Winners of an exclusive competition for Official Members recently enjoyed a live video chat with Ben Godfrey. The Toffees defender discussed making his debut in an Merseyside derby, how he spends his downtime, and the Everton teammate he counts as his toughest opponent.

This article originally appeared in the Everton Matchday Programme. We are sharing as part of the Club's commitment to increasing its Blue Family activities and providing entertaining online content for Evertonians to enjoy during the new national lockdown.

For more about Blue Family, please click here.

Firstly Ben, when did you realise you wanted to be a professional footballer?

It was probably when I was about six or seven years old. Before that, I actually played rugby because that’s what a lot of my family did.

But when I turned six or seven, I was playing football every day in the streets with my friends. I joined a local team and that’s when I thought, ‘This is the path I want to go down’. I haven’t looked back since.
 
Who is the biggest role model you’ve had?

My dad was probably my biggest role model as a kid. He played sport, too, he was a professional rugby league player.

He taught me a lot about what it takes to become a professional athlete. I’m really grateful for all the guidance he’s given me.

You have played at lots of different levels throughout your career, from your time  at York, Shrewsbury on loan, Norwich and now Everton. How would you describe the challenges in making those steps?

Moving from York to Norwich – from a League Two team to a Premier League club – was a massive jump. I was only 18 and it took me time to get up to speed with it.

That’s why I went on loan to Shrewsbury. You’ve got to be open to learning. Then, I played a lot of Championship and Premier League football for Norwich, which  meant the step to Everton wasn’t as big of a jump.

But you’ve got world-class players here – and you see bits of magic from the likes of James Rodriguez and you think ‘Wow, I’ve never seen that before’. So, there is still a step up but it’s not as big as what I’ve experienced in the past.

What were you most excited about when you joined Everton?

The size of the Club was something that really excited me. The fanbase is massive, so for me to experience that is something I could never turn down.

When you’re a young kid, you want to grow up to play for one of the biggest clubs.

To have this opportunity is amazing. To play for a club of this size is something I’ve dreamt about since I was a young boy. It’s big for me.

How did it feel to make your Everton debut in a Merseyside derby?

It’s a game I’ve been watching for years – it’s one of those huge fixtures you always watch with your family. Everyone watches it all over the world.

For there to be no fans there was a shame but I could still feel how big the game was. You get a sense of it in the city.

I got the opportunity to come on as a sub after Seamus Coleman unfortunately got injured. That was a massive moment for me to come on in that game.

Unfortunately, we didn’t get the three points but I enjoyed every single second of it.

What have you learned from Carlo Ancelotti?

The boss has been there and done it all. I can’t think of any managers who would be better for me to work under. It’s unbelievable to have this opportunity to learn from him.

What has really struck me about him is how he simplifies everything. He doesn’t try to over-complicate things.

What he says can be so simple but it is so effective. That’s definitely something I picked up on very early.

Who is the toughest opponent you’ve faced?

Last season, after the lockdown, I played for Norwich against Everton. Everton beat us 1-0 and I was up against Dom [Calvert-Lewin].

He just did not stop running for 90 minutes. It was the most annoying game of my career because he worked so hard!

That was my hardest day in the Premier League, so I’d have to say Dom was my toughest opponent. It’s not nice for a defender to have Dom chasing you around! He can run, he can jump and he can finish.

What area of your game are you hoping to improve the most this season?

As a young centre-back, there are a lot of things which come with experience – like reading the game and positioning. I want to develop my game in that sense.

I want to pick up bits from the experienced lads in the team. I want to be a 23-year-old centre-back who has got the head and experience of a 27-year-old one.

I’ve got to learn, soak everything up and improve from my experiences, which I’ve done so far.
 
What do you do to relax and switch off?

That’s a good question. Sometimes you get caught just thinking, ‘Football, football, football’ all the time. It’s important to switch off.

It’s hard now because you can’t mix with your friends and family the way you used to. So, in my spare time, I like to catch up with them over the phone or online to have a laugh and make sure they’re doing okay.

I also like to play the PlayStation. Although, I’m not actually that good to be honest! I don’t seem to win many games, so something has to change there!
 
Do you have PlayStation competitions among your teammates? If so, who usually wins?

I haven’t actually played against any of the boys from here yet. I try to keep myself out of those debates about who is the best because I know I’m not going to come out on top!

I’ve heard Dom Calvert-Lewin is pretty good, but I’m yet to see it for myself!