Get to know…..Josh Thompson

How did you get into football?

I got into football through my family who are all football mad - grew up playing with my grandad and my dad before playing for proper teams  

Who do you support?

Newcastle United - had a season ticket for several years until I started playing Saturdays

Who is your favourite football player, past or present?

Paolo Maldini - hands down the greatest defender of all time in my opinion - grew up watching him play for AC Milan and was even lucky enough to meet him in America

Favourite football moment? Can be your own or one you have witnessed.

Tough question but I think it would have to either be the chieck tiote equaliser in the 4-4 draw with arsenal or the papiss Cisse last minute winner in the Europa league against anzhi - on a personal level I have won leagues and cups and was in the ground for the 5-1 win against Sunderland but in terms of one off moments they always stick out

What is your go to song to get you pumped up for match day?

Kasabian - club foot or fat boy slim - right here right now

Any superstitions or pre-game rituals you have to do?

I’m not really a massively superstitious person but I always put my left boot on before my right

What is your favourite food? Can be a meal or cuisine

My fiancée Amy makes this amazing pasta dish from time to time that I could eat for every single meal it’s incredible - she never quite remembers what she puts in so it changes slightly ever time but honestly it’s unbelievable

Do you have any other hobbies outside of football?

I enjoy walking and staying active as well as gaming 

What do you like to do in your downtime?

love to travel with my fiancée so any chance we get we like to go somewhere new and we always enjoy a good road trip listening to some country music - normally like to be out and about but do like to chill out and draw from time to time too

If money wasn’t an issue, where in the world would you choose to go, either on holiday or to live?

Myself and my fiancée are fortunate enough to get to go to New Zealand next year which is somewhere we’ve always wanted to go but I would absolutely love to spend 3 weeks going from the north to the south of Japan - looks like such an amazing place

If you could play for any football team in the world (that isn’t Durham City of course) who would it be and why?

It would have to be Newcastle - supported the club all my life and has always been my dream to play in front of a packed out St James