It
will go down as one of the most remarkable Youth Cup finals in history.
Six years ago today at Stamford Bridge Dominic Solanke slotted home to spark
wild Chelsea celebrations as Fulham players sunk to the turf in despair.
"I remember feeling absolutely shattered coming into final 20 minutes with
Patrick Roberts running down the wing like a young Lionel Messi!" MK Dons
midfielder Jordan Houghton recalls.
"Fulham had some top players. Moussa Dembele, Roberts, Emerson Hyndman in
midfield. They were 3-1 up in the first leg. We managed to score to make it
3-2 in the 88th minute or something like that. Looking back now it was a
massive goal.
"The final at Stamford Bridge was a crazy game. There probably won't be
another one like it. Our team talk had been don't let them score early and
we came out and conceded after four minutes!
"We got two to lead but they then led 3-2 and this was in the first half! We
managed to get three in the last 10 minutes of the game to win 7-6 on
aggregate."
In a wide ranging interview with Sky Sports News Houghton explains why he
decided to raise thousands of pounds for NHS charities, reveals the player
that was on "another level" at Chelsea and explains why he is benefiting
from the skills of a sport psychologist.
That night in 2014 he was among the scorers in front of a watching Jose
Mourinho and in a team that included current Chelsea players Andreas
Christensen and Ruben Loftus-Cheek. He has also played with Tammy Abraham,
Mason Mount and Fikayo Tomori as he started his career in the Chelsea
academy.
"It's amazing for them," he says. "I know the Chelsea fans were hoping for
young players to come through so it's good Lampard came in at the right time
with Jody Morris and Joe Edwards. They want to push young players but it
came at the right time too with the transfer ban. It's worked because
they've done really well.
"The likes of Tammy, Mason, Fikayo coming in for their first season and have
been among the best players so it shows the young lads can do it when
trusted."
Loftus-Cheek has not featured in a game this season due to a back problem
but his former team-mate is convinced about what kind of impact he can make
on his return.
"I started with Ruben when we were nine years old so it's nice to see him
doing well," Houghton says. "Hopefully he can come back from his injury
quickly and hit the ground running because he's going to be a real top
player for Chelsea and England. He's a special talent."
He is also clear about his Chelsea experience and what it is like seeing the
younger players get a chance under the club's all-time leading goalscorer.
"People always ask me do you wish you got that opportunity in the first team
and what about now with Lampard? Do you think you would have got that
opportunity? I never really look at it like that. I look at it from a glass
half full perspective," he says.
"I had 12 or 13 years there and had an education, I was learning and growing
into a man. I had amazing opportunities and memories from that youth career,
getting to train with great players in the first team and amazing managers.
"There have been good times and it's made me into the person I am now so I'm
very grateful for all the amazing staff and coaches I've had and I'm pretty
lucky to be where I am now playing football as a job."
He recalls training with the first team between the ages of 15 and 20.
"I always remember Deco was playing at the time and it felt like he was on
another level," Houghton says. "All these tricks, he was a top player. In
the time I was there no one came close to Eden Hazard. He was just
unbelievable and he could just turn it on at any time.
"Most players need to be at it constantly whereas he could come out with
baggy trousers and just run round the whole team!
"John Terry and Didier Drogba were so helpful, Michael Essien, David Luiz
were top guys. A couple of them I now see as football friends. They were
idols growing up so to still be in touch now is surreal."
During lockdown he has put his time to good use along with wife Harley and
together they have raised almost £3,000 for NHS charities.
He added: "It came from not really doing anything and feeling helpless in
this situation. We thought we could reach out, especially to the MK Dons and
Chelsea fanbase.
"It's a relatively small amount in terms of people like John Terry but a
small amount goes a long way and if a lot of people do that it will help a
lot."
Houghton checks in regularly with MK Dons team-mates via WhatsApp, while
manager Russell Martin hosts team meetings on video call. He has offered the
players the use of a sports psychologist, something the 24-year-old is
already familiar with.
"I had a few injuries at the start of my youth career and I've gone back to
the same guy," he says. "It's an aspect of the game that people don't know
too much about and are quite naive to it. I was myself and it's only when
you actually sit down to chat you realise how it can help.
"If you talk to the people who have been at the top of the game they say a
large chunk of success comes from your mental strength in the game.
"The guy I've been working with suggests having something written down or a
cue on your hand or arm. It's a visual cue as opposed to having to think
about it because obviously in the game it's hectic and you probably forget.
"It can help in this lockdown period because you have a lot of time sitting
around doing nothing so you do tend to overthink."
MK Dons were five points clear of the League One relegation zone before
football was suspended but before the battle can recommence Houghton is
urging caution.
"For me personally I would want to go back but it has to be right for all
the players in terms of health. That's the main thing. We can't be going
back and risking our lives or other lives," he insists.
"Football isn't the be-all and end-all. You think of your own family, your
parents who might be in that higher risk category even if you still see them
as young parents, so it's a difficult time. We have to be sensible."
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