I was a bit confused because I didn’t see anyone there who was streets ahead of me but those two were Michael Dawson and Wes Morgan so I can’t complain. After a month there the manager Paul Hart pulled me in and said they liked me but weren’t going to offer me anything at that stage because they wanted to stay loyal to their two other centre-halves who had been there since they were kids. “They had Des Walker, David Prutton, David Johnson – lots of top players. “Forest were a very decent side,” Todd explained of his time there. Not giving up on a career at the highest level, Todd got a trial at Nottingham Forest through a family connection to Dean Saunders. It turned my world upside-down to be honest – it broke my heart.”Ĭhris recalls one of the best moments of his life when he finally moved into becoming a full pro with Swansea – his boyhood club (Image: Richard Williams) “But I played 35 games that season and thought I’d done well but I ended up getting released, which I was really baffled by. “We struggled in League Two – the club felt like it was on a bit of a downer,” Todd remembered. Todd went on to start in 11 games at the end of that season which resulted in the Swans’ relegation to League Two before Hollins – who still lives in Swansea – was replaced by Colin Addison. He played at an incredible level and was a legend and for him to see something in me meant a lot.” I can’t speak highly enough of John for believing in me at that time. When you think about how a teenage centre-half playing regularly in League One would be spoken about now you’d think you’d have half a chance of becoming a top player. “Looking back it was a massive call for John to put me in because I was lean and I was a lean character too in many respects and there were other options who were much more experienced than me. I was a young lad and when you’re that age I suppose I was a bit fearless – yes nervous but I felt ready.”Īlongside Matthew Bound 19-year-old Todd held his own against imposing centre-forward Steve Howard as Swansea battled to a 1-1 draw with Northampton Town and his name “started to get bandied about”. The next morning he told me and I just remember being so excited. “I presume mum and dad didn’t sleep the night before with nerves and John and my parents didn’t want to tell me because they didn’t want me to worry about the game. “John is a lovely bloke and I later found out he’d actually come to my house in Penlan the night before to tell my parents I was in the team on the Saturday,” 41-year-old Todd recalled. Now assistant manager at Yeovil Town alongside Mark Cooper the father-of-three, whose cancer diagnosis almost ended his career, has experienced more than most and is relishing using the “life skills” he’s picked up to help develop future stars.Īs a teen in Penlan his “dream came true” when John Hollins called him up to the Swans first team for a League One encounter at the Vetch in March 2001. From starring in a film to performing at the Royal Albert Hall and writing his own book, ex- Swansea City and Newport County footballer Chris Todd is in many ways far removed from the bulldozing performances at centre-half for which he became known on the pitch.
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