Safe hands: Lawrence Vigouroux

Published: 10 December, 2015
by STEVE BARNETT

FROM playing Bar­celona, and alongside Bale, Sanchez and Suarez, shot-stopper Lawrence Vigouroux is already holding a CV that any professional footballer would be proud of. 

The 22-year-old Camden keeper, who was once released for “being too small”, insists however, that he hasn’t even begun to hit the heights yet as he sets his sights on impressing one of most charismatic managers the Premier League has ever seen. 

Lawrence is currently enjoy­ing a loan-spell with League One side Swindon Town before returning to his parent club Liverpool in the summer. 

On Saturday he used a rare weekend off to visit “the place that made him”, and talked to the New Journal about his memories playing in the Camden and Regent’s Park Youth League, being banned from a school trip, Jurgen Klopp, and how “boring” he found playing in goal when growing up. 

“The Camden and Regent’s Park Youth League was the place that made me. It gave me something to do instead of being on the streets,” said Lawrence, who lived in Ampthill Square estate before moving to Kentish Town. 

“I used to go along every Saturday and if my game was at 1pm, I’d get there at 9am and try and get more games. 

“Most of my favourite football memories came from playing at Regent’s Park. I wasn’t playing under any pressure, I was just playing for the love of football. 

“I never use to play in goal. I played in midfield for Lithgow FC, and played on the wing for the Camden Year 6 District team. I was always good in goal when I was younger, but I didn’t like it. I found it boring. Obviously I grew into it.” 

Lawrence has experienced plenty of highs and lows, from being released by one club when he was 16, to bouncing back to play against Barcelona in front of huge crowd at White Hart Lane. Now measuring in a 6ft 3ins, he’s looking to make a big impact at the very top of the game. 

“When I was 14 I was scouted by Chelsea, Tottenham and Brentford. Although Brentford was the smaller of the clubs I signed for them because I thought I’d have a better chance of playing for their first team – but they released me when I was 16 for being too small,” he said. 

“I bounced back through, and ended up signing for Spurs. I remember playing against Barcelona at White Hart Lane in front of 14,000 fans. It was unreal. 

“Last season I got an offer from Liverpool that I simply couldn’t turn down. Although I’m on loan at Swindon, I went back to Liverpool during the last international break and trained under Klopp. It was quality. He’s always buzzing about and happy. I’m looking forward to getting back there in the summer and hopefully impressing him.” 

Lawrence has already had a taste of international football, too, having played for Chile during the Under-20s South American Youth Champion­ships in 2013 – where he was part of the first Chile squad ever to beat Argentina in their own backyard. 

A pretty big achievement for a man who still remembers the first steps he made in the sport during his time at a small primary school tucked away in Regent’s Park. 

“I used to go to Christchurch in Redhill Street,” he recalled with a warm smile. “I use to get in trouble because I kept staying out late playing foot­ball in the Cumberland cage. My mum phoned the head teacher and said I wasn’t allowed to go on a school trip – but I loved it there.” 

Reflecting on his career so far Lawrence acknowledges he still has it all to prove, and says that he fully plans to keep working as hard as he can. 

But that didn’t stop him reeling off some of the best names he’s played with, or against, like he was reading a Panini sticker album of who’s who in the world of football. 

“I trained alongside Alexis Sanchez when he was at Barcelona. I was with Chile and he came and trained with us. He works so hard, and he’s a nightmare to play against. 

“I also played in the Steven Gerrard vs Jamie Carragher charity match alongside Luis Suarez, Fernando Torres and Xabi Alonso, it was unreal. 

“I’d say Suarez was the best player I’ve ever played with, or Gareth Bale. I trained with Bale at Spurs. His technical ability is unbelievable. He’s a proper athlete. His free-kicks, his shooting, his energy is just unbelievable.”