“BEFORE JOINING READING IN 1992, I EARNED A DEGREE IN ENGINEERING AND INTERNED AT NASA”

How did you get into football growing up, and why did you become a goalkeeper?

For as long as I can remember, I’ve played football. Everyone plays sport in Trinidad and Tobago – given the hot weather, you can play outdoors all year. Most people play football or cricket. I remember Trinidad and Tobago were putting together a national under-12s football team and my dad took me along to the regional trials. I’d never played in goal before, but as I was walking up to register for the try-outs, the coach looked at me and said, “You’re the tallest, you’re the keeper.” That was the first time I’d played in goal. I made the regional team and then eventually went on to make the national side.

How did the Reading move come about?

I’d been at university in the US on a football scholarship, and