Aidan Rutledge is the next player who is in the firing line as we throw our random questions at him and demand he entertains us with his answers – let’s see how he gets on…

Firsts

What was the name of your first pet?
Bart. It was a hamster. We wanted a dog, but my dad said we could only get a dog if we looked after the hamster really well. Sadly, the hamster died within about four months, and we never did get a dog!

What was your first car?
A Toyota Yaris, it was red. The exhaust fell off after about a week, but it was okay and ended up lasting quite a while in the end.

What was your first holiday abroad?
The earliest one I can remember is going to Turkey with my family. I remember that the hotel has a water resort right there, so it was the best!

What was the first gig you went to see?
Haha, it was S Club 7 at Newcastle Arena. My two sisters were both big fans, so they forced me to go along with them. I was only about 12 and it was okay, to be fair.

What was the first match you went to see?
It was a Newcastle United pre-season friendly. We won 1-0 against Sampdoria and I remember that Shola Ameobi scored the only goal with a penalty. I was only about 5.

Who was your first best friend?
It was a las called Matthew Moralee. My mam and his mam are best mates, so we pretty much spent our entire childhoods together because of that.

Who is the first person in your phone book?
It’s Adam Campbell, who plays for Hartlepool now. I was with him at Gateshead and he’s a good lad.

When was the first time you realised you might turn pro?
I always scored goals regularly when I was a kid but never played in an Academy. My dad always just told me to keep scoring goals and it wasn’t really until I went to Birtley that I thought I might be able to do something in football.

What was your first match as a pro footballer?
My first game in men’s football was when I was 17 and playing for Redheugh Boys Club in the Northern Alliance Second Division. I wasn’t really nervous because I was playing with all my mates, and it was seven leagues below where I am playing now.

Who was your first football manager?
Terry Ritson. He was in charge at Redheugh Boys, and he is one of the nicest blokes you could ever meet. He’s still there now helping to run the Club and he’s just a lovely fella.

What was the first mobile phone you owned?
A little Nokia brick. I think it was my mam’s phone actually, but I stole it as often as I could to use it!

Lasts

What is the last thing you watched on TV?
Love Island. I don’t always watch it, but this season has been pretty good. My girlfriend is the one who has got me into watching it.

What was the last thing that made you laugh?
It was probably when Ramma has just been giving the physio some grief about his nose! That was quite funny! Haha!

What was the last thing you bought?
On New Year’s Eve, I took my girlfriend to a Tomahawk Steakhouse, so I guess buying the food that night was the last time I spent money on something expensive!

What is the last thing you took a photo of?
Haha, it was this photo of Rob Ramshaw which is both funny and scary!

What is the last thing you ate?
I have just had a chicken and tomato pasta meal with peppers and stuff. My mam made me it, and that’s the sort of thing I usually eat about three or four hours before a game which is what we are right now!

What is the last thing you drank?
Water. We’re on the bus to an away game so water is the thing to drink!

Who is the last person you spoke to on the phone?
Probably my girlfriend. She was texting me to make sure that I got to the pick-up point for the team coach in time! Haha!

What was the last football match you went to (where you weren’t playing)?
I went to watch Newcastle the other week. It was a midweek game and I can’t remember who they were playing now. I try to get along and watch as often as I can.

What was the last film you watched?
It was Yes Man. You know, that Jim Carrey film where he has to say yes to every opportunity? I quite enjoyed that – it was pretty funny!

Who was the last person to text you?   
My girlfriend would have been the last the person to text me as well, she’s always sending me messages to keep in touch!