HARRY TOFFOLO is set to start his 100th consecutive EFL match and is dedicating it to the woman he loves.
The Huddersfield left-back’s better half Annie has raised their two children – Luca, 4, and Enzo, 2 – and is currently 28 weeks pregnant expecting their daughter during what has been a staggering run of games.
Huddersfield Town star Harry Toffolo is set to play his 100th consecutive matchCredit: Getty Images – Getty
Toffolo and Annie – with Luca, 4, and Enzo, 2 – are expecting a daughter
What makes Toffolo’s achievement special is that those games have come across all three EFL divisions. The run started when he made his debut for previous club Lincoln at Northampton in August 2018.
He started all 46 matches as the Imps won League Two before another 26 games in League One until his January move to Huddersfield, where he has played all 27 of their Championship games since.
And Toffolo, 25, said: “I credit Annie. When I started this run our two little boys were under two and, as they’ve grown up, she’s taken responsibility.
In recent months, I’ve had games here, there and everywhere.
“Right now, she’s 28-weeks pregnant and has to also deal with our two nutters! She’s been unbelievable and given me the opportunity to make this achievement.”
The irony is his 100th straight EFL game is against Millwall – where he did not play a single minute during his six months there but has started every match since.
Ex-boss Danny Cowley – and his brother and assistant Nicky – played a huge part in Toffolo’s career.
First they took him to Lincoln and then to Huddersfield.
Toffolo revealed: “Danny sold Lincoln to me – a club I knew about from their famous FA Cup run. But I remember asking him, ‘How are you going to make me better?’ And they’ve made me 10 times the player I was.
“My aims were to win League Two and get into the team of the year. I achieved both.”
The Cowleys moved to West Yorkshire last September and Toffolo continued his development under Michael Appleton before following the brothers.
And the Terriers ace said: “Appleton was brilliant in the short time I spent with him – we had great chats. You can see his quality as a coach by what he’s doing with Lincoln now.
“A lot of people think Danny and I must have been texting from the moment he left Lincoln – but the truth is he went cold on me and he didn’t speak to me again until January when we were aware of Huddersfield’s interest.
“He told me he hadn’t wanted to distract from my performances. That was the respect he had for me and Lincoln.
“But regardless of my relationship with Danny and Nicky, the chance to play in the Championship, though, was too good to turn down.”
The modern-day footballer can’t just come into work and go home. Those days are gone.”
Harry Toffolo
Toffolo played a key role as the Terriers beat the drop to League One.
And the left-back admitted: “It’s only when in adversity that you know what you’re capable of.
“Beating West Brom, which all but guaranteed our survival, was a special moment.”
The Cowleys left and were replaced by Carlos Corberan during the close season yet Toffolo still continues to start.
And he said: “The one thing you need is consistency because managers want to know they can trust and depend on you. And you must stay fit and live and prepare right.
“I’ve always pushed myself hard, staying behind after training, going through my clips and doing extra sessions.
“The modern-day footballer can’t just come into work and go home. Those days are gone. No disrespect to players from 20 years ago but they didn’t have tablets.
“We go into such detail. If I’m up against someone left-footed who plays on the right, nine times out of 10 he’ll come inside.”
Toffolo feared his chances of playing 100 games were in doubt after he injured his knee at Brentford last month and had to come off after just 36 minutes.
He said: “I got tight to Bryan Mbeumo and my foot got caught in the ground, it was an impact thing.
“I got lucky. There was just a bit of fluid in the knee but we strapped it and it was all fine.
“Having played in League One and Two, I got lots of niggles so have learned to understand my body more. We just strapped it up and got on with it.”
Toffolo loves working for Corberan even if he does find the infamous ‘Murderball’ training sessions, well, murder.
He said: “The great thing is they’re so intense that when you get to a game it won’t be as hard as that.
“It works when we go to the 93rd minute and we’re still sprinting in behind and back. We’re now just eating it all up.
“Of course, I was sad to see Danny and Nicky leave and, because of what they’ve achieved, they’ll get a good job soon.
“But in football you cannot dwell on things. Carlos taking over was exciting because the way he wants to play suits me down to a tee.
“I’m growing as a player under him. It’s high energy, high press. It’s the way Leeds played last season in the Championship. It suits players who are fit and have a high stamina.
“The boys have bought into it. We’ve got 10 points from the first games, more than we had last season and we feel we’re improving.”
TOFFOLO’S FAVOURITES
Left-back picks his best games at Huddersfield and Lincoln.
H’FIELD 1 DERBY 0 – Oct 20 2020
JUNINHO BACUNA’S goal is what we work towards every single day – being confident on the ball, having a personality to play out from the back, the confidence to do it. It was special for us all and I got the assist. Also loved our 1-1 draw at Pride Park in February because I scored there after making a great run for the goal.
LINCOLN 1 GRIMSBY 0 – Jan 19 2019
SCORING the 12th-minute winner in the Lincolnshire derby at Sincil Bank was a massive moment for me – and we kept a clean sheet. We took four points off the Mariners after a 1-1 draw down their place. The boys had two great games against them as we won League Two in my first season at the club.
Ex-Towie star Mark Wright shows off his skills on the football training pitch
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
