Town youngster Josh Emmanuel is driven by a determination to repay his mother and father for all they did for him in his development years.

Emmanuel is set to continue at right-back when Championship leaders Huddersfield visit Portman Road tomorrow and will be hoping to build on his performance in the 0-0 home stalemate with Brighton on Tuesday, which earned him the Man of the Match accolade.

The 19-year-old was born in London to parents Christopher and Janet who came to the UK from Nigeria and he was raised in Essex, near Harlow, and then lived in Braintree. A devout Christian, he regularly attends church and believes God is with him at all times.

He said: “I couldn’t begin to tell you the amount of sacrifices my parents have made for me over the years. Hopefully it’s now time for me to give back.

“They have given up a lot for me to become a footballer and I don’t think I’m actually there yet.

“To see me playing at the highest level would be reward enough for them. It’s not all about money — my goal is to be the best I can be.

“I’ll give you one example about them. When I was a scholar here at 16, obviously I couldn’t drive and I wasn’t in digs locally.

“My parents used to drive me from Braintree every single day then wait around and kill time in Ipswich until training finished and I was ready to be taken home.

“Overall it was a long day — we would leave Braintree at 7.30 in the morning and I’d finish around 4.30 or 5pm, meaning we wouldn’t get home until around 6pm.

"That was every day of the week and that’s just one of the many things they did for me. I will always be massively grateful to them.”

Unless he is required to report to the Town training ground, Emmanuel’s routine on a Sunday consists of driving to London and meeting the other members of his family — he also has an older sister and brother — to attend a service at their church near Canary Wharf.

He added: “It’s a sacrifice to get up early on a Sunday and drive to London but it’s not that far and you have to make sacrifices in life. For me the biggest sacrifice is to keep the faith even when things aren’t going the way you might want them to go. I know that God is in control.

“My whole family is religious and it’s good to get together at church. How God impacts on your life is different for everyone. It’s difficult to believe in God because there’s nothing to see. The way I see it I’m just opening up and showing my faith in what God can do.”

Because of his religious beliefs, not something you will find in every football dressing room, Emmanuel occasionally encounters potentially difficult banter from team-mates. But he said: “I think it comes with the territory, although I don’t really get too much of it.

“When I do I just take it like it is and it doesn’t bother me. We’re all different and we believe in different things. I’m passionate about what I believe in but I know it’s not everyone who shares my beliefs and that’s fine by me.

“My surname means ‘God is with me’ and I believe he is. That’s who I am and it’s my life really. I’m thankful for the fact that my family always brought me up in a Christian manner but as I got older I began to realise for myself what God actually meant to me.

“I take responsibility in making sure that others can see what it means but obviously it’s hard because faith is different for everyone. It’s something that I hope to keep as I push forward with my career.

“There’s a mixture of emotions from my colleagues because they are all individuals and see things differently. The main thing from my point of view is to believe, to have faith and to open up about it.

“It has helped me, not only in football but in absolutely everything I do. Obviously, it’s a bit biased coming from me, but I know God is helping me in all that I do and is favouring me. I just need to stay focused and do what I can control, do what I can do.”

Photo: TWTD

stevelincsexile added 06:57 - Sep 30 What a smashing lad. I hope he makes a real success of his career and makes our RB position his own.
15

GiveusaWave added 06:59 - Sep 30 Good on you. You did brilliantly at rb last game and I think a lot of fans (myself included) think you deserve to be first choice. I hope you get a good chance to play first team football in the next few games. You were the highlight of that match for me.
10

iaintaylorx added 07:04 - Sep 30 Always predicted big things for this lad. Just needs that faith in him and I am' sure he'll become a great right back!
6

Jewels added 07:19 - Sep 30 You have to keep playing him Mick. He is an excellent developing player. He should have been already playing right back and not bought in to cover injury. Play your best players in their best positions. I would rather we played Dozzell who is ours and Bishop too. I think the fans want to see this and we will all get behind them. They'll make mistakes but they'll learn.
9

franco added 07:48 - Sep 30 Good for you josh , a top lad
7

greyhound added 08:44 - Sep 30 Lad gives a good down to earth interview. Have great feelings that he is one of the true players to lead us forward
7

pegasus added 08:51 - Sep 30 Agree every comment from top to bottom. God Bless you, Josh.
8

ernie added 09:15 - Sep 30 Sounds like one of the more intelligent and articulate interviews with a town player for a long time. All the best to him
4

rozeeboy added 09:16 - Sep 30 Braintree to Ipswich to hang around for 10 hours. I think I'd go home ;-) I always like it when a local lad does good. Let's hope he makes it.
5

spanishblue added 09:35 - Sep 30 Great parents,sounds a truly great kid,can only wish the best of luck ,hope your still doing the business when i get to see my annual game next year
4

TR11BLU added 09:46 - Sep 30 Refreshing change in a business of greed and excess - particularly this week. Bloody great prospect too, keep it up son.
4

DiamondGezzer added 10:04 - Sep 30 How nice to come on here and have everybody in agreement, long may it continue. Josh whatever it is you're saying and doing, please keep it up - its so refreshing !
4

hoppy added 10:17 - Sep 30 DiamondGezzer, You're right. I can't remember looking at any comments on News stories and not seeing at least one negative spin on it... I'm surprised nobody seems to have found one yet here. Had a great game on Tuesday - hopefully, his confidence will rocket with more games under his belt. Now, go make yourself undroppable, Josh.
4

sirmichealmills added 10:51 - Sep 30 Good on you son. Was with all the way until you said "God is with me at all times". Comforting for all the suffering, pain and hardship that people endure in the world, God can personally oversee and help your football career at ITFC. Don't blame him though, blame his parents.... Now Mark me down all ye faithful!!
-1

Brownie added 13:28 - Sep 30 As requested sir Michael! Not particularly religious myself but each to his own. Lad was asked a question & gave an honest answer about his motivations. Can't criticise him for that. Here hoping he makes himself a stalwart at RB. We definitely need one..
5

ventilator added 13:37 - Sep 30 Whilst I admire the dedication of Josh's parents, it seems strange that he wasn't able to use one of the two stations in Braintree to board one of the regular trains to Ipswich rather than being driven each day.
0

DiamondGezzer added 16:02 - Sep 30 Looks like I spoke too soon ! Maybe next time !
1

Seasider added 17:02 - Sep 30 Nearly DiamondGezzer. I found his interview refreshing,and comes over as a lovely lad with good Christian principles,and a close family; who isn't in it for the money. Not sure if he is ok with swearing,as I imagine quite a lot of that goes on,as it does in most clubs,and Mick and Chambo do it in public.
2

happybeingblue added 17:36 - Sep 30 god wont help ya but hopefully chambers will :)
0

Taricco_Fan added 19:10 - Sep 30 Sounds like a great guy. Pleased for him that he may now break into the first team.
2

Monkey_Blue added 00:08 - Oct 1 Oh FFS!! Another sports person going out on about their religious delusions. Wish him well as a player but anyone Who thinks their bullsh1t god gives a toss about sporting achievements but is happy to allow children to die for lack of clean drinking water. Sees a slap. This is the same God who loves slavery? Rape? Genocide? Religion should Be like Politics.... have no place in sport

-1

TractorBeezer added 00:22 - Oct 1 Well done Josh for your progress and for the courage to articulate and be proud of your beliefs. Three points Saturday!
3

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