It's always fascinating to hear about the journeys of individuals who have passed through Bede's, especially when they've gone on to achieve their dreams. We recently had the pleasure of catching up with James Norwood whose football career has truly taken off. Join us as we revisit his time at Bede's and explore how those foundational years shaped him into the successful player and person he is today.

Looking back at your time at Bede’s, how did the school's environment and the football program contribute to your development as a player and a person?

It was absolutely massive. We had Mr. Cole (Steve Cole) in charge, and from early on, when I was at Crystal Palace, he'd let me leave school early for training on Tuesdays and Thursdays. He was incredibly supportive. We also had Dave Leggett ("Lego") and Mr. Turner before him. We even won the National Cup under Lego and reached the national finals under Turner. It truly felt like being in an academy, with the training and coaching we received, and then, of course, playing games. It was like going from one academy straight into another.

The setup was perfect for pursuing a career in what you wanted to do. It was the same with rugby; during the rugby season, you'd train and play rugby games. The way everything was structured, from day-to-day life, is pretty much how I live now.

I like that you have nicknames for your teachers; it shows the rapport you have with them.

I still text Lego now, and I still speak to the headmaster, Mr. Cole. Lego even came around my house for breakfast after I left school; he made enough phone calls to my parents that they became friends!

Do you keep in contact with many friends from your school days?

Yes, I still speak to quite a few people. We were really close, and we grew up outside of school too. We're all from the same town, so we grew up together, which has been great. I obviously still speak to teachers and students. I think it was such a community, especially when I was there; everyone was really supportive of each other, and I have really fond memories.

In a previous interview with the school, you mentioned the importance of keeping standards high and making every training session count. How did your time at Bede’s instill that work ethic in you?

It started everything for me. As you come up through the age groups, you have different teachers: I remember Mr. Waterhouse was the U13/U14 coach, then we went on to Paul Turner and then Dave Leggett. If you didn't train properly, you wouldn't play. If you wanted to be in the first team and do well, then you had to be better than everybody else. You weren't there on merit; you had to behave in class, show up on time, turn up to training on time, and then you had to train hard.

I think this is important in any walk of life. My timekeeping, ever since I was at Bede’s, has always been on time; in fact, on time is late! So, it's not only what's important on the field; it's everything all around, contributing to a 100% positive outcome.

It's like buttering toast, I remember training one year; one of the younger lads was buttering toast and I said, "Just do it perfectly." It transitions from little things: if you're going to do something, you do it to the best of your ability. If you're just going to slap butter on toast, are you really going to enjoy that? But if you really spend time on it and really make it, then this attitude transitions into folding clothes, keeping your room tidy, your house tidy, and then your boots clean. Everything just transitions one into the other, and you start finding your standards becoming higher and more strict on yourself. I just found that analogy of butter on toast, and whenever I did it, I would do it to the best of my ability.

Were there any particular teachers, coaches, or moments at Bede’s that had a lasting impact on you?

Yeah, obviously Dave Leggett, Paul Turner, Mr. Waterhouse who was my first housemaster, Mr. Mills when I went into Knights, and Mrs. Leggett who was my Home Economics teacher. But Mr. Cole was, I think, the biggest influence for me. He made my stay at Bede’s possible because of certain things, and he really put me under his wing. I'm really thankful to him for allowing me the opportunity to stay there for Sixth Form and continue developing as a man and, of course, as a football player.

I missed quite a lot of school due to going to football clubs and things like that, and he was more than happy to cater to that. Even when we made the national final, it was a Saturday, and he was like, "Right, you guys are coming in for, say, 10:00. Don't worry about coming in for half eight. You're going to come in and I'm going to lay breakfast on for you." He allowed us not to go to classes that day so we could focus on this game, and then he canceled school so everyone could come and watch us play. It was amazing, a national cup semi-final at home, and we had 1,200 people there, which at the time no one had experienced something like that. It was really special. We ended up winning 7-5. I think when they turned up, we sort of got on the front foot and started to build our way into the game. I think there were a few nerves, especially with Patrick Murray, because he tackled our goalkeeper and he was brilliant at getting everyone back for the 2009 game.

If you could give one piece of advice to new pupils starting out at Bede’s, what would it be?

Embrace everything! Whether you're into sport or not, try things. The activities that are available are amazing. Try everything, throw yourself into it, because I know from my experience with the teachers at Bede's that they care about you, so they're going to make everything as enjoyable as they can. Embrace the moment because you'll be told countless times that school is the best years, and I've spoken to people who say it's not, but for me, those 10-odd years I was at Bede’s, from the prep school to the senior school, it was the time of my life. I threw myself into everything; I even ran cross country, and I hate running! But I did it because I just think experiences that Bede’s are able to provide don't come around often, especially the older you get, those experiences get less and less.

Since leaving Bede’s, can you talk us through how your football journey has developed?

Like I said, I was missing a lot of school, and in my final year, I was going to certain clubs for four or five days at a time. I had to leave on Friday, and I think I said goodbye to everyone on the last day of school. I then went to Exeter on the Monday and ended up doing pre-season there and signing after a couple of days in League One. I did pre-season, obviously not expecting too much, and then on the 8th of August 2009, I woke up to a phone call saying, "You need to get the bus; you're going to Leeds." So I ended up getting on the bench and coming on for 20 minutes at Elland Road in front of 30,000 people.

How did you feel in that moment when you got called onto the field?

I was so hyped, I put on the wrong shirt! I put on another player's shirt and had to get called back to change. It was a moment I felt like I'd worked 10 years for. I didn't want to let myself down, and for me, it was about making sure that I had something to stand by and go, "I'm going to make it." Then I ended up playing three or four games that season against Yeovil, QPR, Norwich, and Brighton, so they just threw me in for the big games.

Did you find it quite hard juggling academics alongside sports?

Yeah, I did, but I was quite fortunate that I was quite academic and I enjoyed it, so I was able to take information in and balance it quite well with the sports. I had great teachers, though, that were really understanding of what I was trying to achieve, so it was made easy. They'd give their time up for me, doing an extra half an hour somewhere else if I had to leave class to go somewhere. So it was all down to all the teachers; they allowed me to do my A-levels while I was chasing my dream.

Was there ever a moment where you doubted whether professional football was the right path for you, and how did you push through that doubt?

There were, yeah. I had an offer from Michigan University in America to go there and play football and study, and shortly after leaving school, they came to watch the semi-final and they offered me a scholarship. That was the only real doubt. I've had doubts along the way, but not so much "can I do it?" because you know you're perfectly capable; it's just whether you can keep that momentum going. I think the biggest doubts I've had are with my injuries: whether my body has just packed in and can it still do it. So that's been in the more recent years where I've just thought, "Will my body just shut down?" But I feel good.

What would you say are some of the key turning points in your career so far?

That's a great question! I think I needed to be released from Exeter. I was in with some young lads that were a little bit older than me, and you get influenced, so probably not the lifestyle you should have as a footballer. They were playing in the first team, and I was obviously chasing to be a consistent part of the first team, and I made some mistakes there. I slept through training once because I'd been out the night before, and you just don't do this at this level. I got released and dropped down to Forest Green, and I sort of knuckled down.

Another turning point for me was when I was playing midfield. I could have gone to the Championship. I don't know why I didn't, but again, I didn't understand football. I signed for Tranmere Rovers, and then I spoke to the manager, and he was like, "You're going to play as a center forward," and that is all I've wanted to do, because I was playing left midfield, I'd always been a striker. He said, "I want you to play every game, and I want you to play up front." And from that point on, I had four amazing years at Tranmere; got promoted twice and won the Golden Boot. I then left and went to Ipswich, so that catapulted my career as such, because I went from left midfield to scoring goals every year and making a slight name for myself. Then finishing with two promotions in a row and going to Ipswich. So I think the turning point for me was getting out of the first couple, because I was done and I learned to work hard, and then I wanted to play in my position. So I think those were the key factors: finding what made me happy.

Can you take us back to that moment in extra time at Wembley, what was going through your mind as you scored that vital equalizer to bring Oldham level? This must have been one of the biggest highs of your football career to date.

I would love to say I had thoughts. It's an out-of-body experience; that's the best way to describe it. I don't remember anything I did on the pitch; you're just so locked into everything, adrenaline going, and it just takes you out, and you don't remember. Especially those last three minutes. I have to watch the game back all the time for the last 10 minutes from that goal onwards to the end of the game because you're just so focused on not letting them score, so you just go into autopilot.

I was reading through an interview that you did in 2022, and in that, you were asked what your five-year aspirations were, and you replied saying ‘staying in the game at the highest level and promotion.’ Well, you've achieved that!

Your career has been a testament to your perseverance and goal-scoring ability across the different leagues. What have been the biggest challenges and learning experiences you've taken away from playing in various divisions of English football, and how did you deal with them mentally and physically?

The biggest challenge is how different the leagues are. You have to play certain ways. The National League is so much more physical with less time, and the refereeing decisions are mentally testing; it's a different standard of player. League One is just a mental battle; you've got to be so ready for your position and where to be and be so tidy. You might have a little bit more time because people are more respectful of you, but it's more of a mental test. I think you have to make sure that everything you've learned in terms of movement and timing and the way you play has to be so concise, otherwise you're offside, or because people are so clever. So I think the test has been juggling the three leagues, finding different movements for certain leagues, and I pride myself on goal scoring.

What does a typical day look like for you during peak season?

A typical day would be 9 AM for breakfast, then we'd do some stretching and foam rolling, and train for an hour and a half, then back for lunch. We have gym around 1:30 PM to 2 PM, and then home for about 3:30 PM or 4 PM. I would say it’s quite a physically demanding day.

Now that promotion has been secured, what are your personal and professional goals for the next chapter?

My personal goals are to look after my body better. I suffered with a few injuries this year, and I need to try and figure out where it's stemming from. Professionally, I don't know where I'm going to be next year; I'm out of contract, so I'm working on seeing what's available. Obviously, it would be nice to stay with Oldham, and that's not off the cards, but I just want to go into the league. I want to do better than I did the last couple of years in the National League; I want to prove to people that I can score goals at any level and progress again. I feel like a phoenix rising out of the ashes again, so hopefully a little bit of a rebirth, and I come back firing.

You have proven to people already that you're perfectly capable of scoring those goals, but I think it's a good way for you to just keep pushing yourself harder, isn't it?

It really is. I'm seeing what the next challenge is because I'm someone who likes to take on a challenge and go beyond that. I think the minute I lose motivation to do that, then I retire.

What advice would you give to any current students who dream of becoming professional athletes?

My advice is that it comes back to the "buttered toast": do everything as perfectly as you can, to the best of your ability, whether it's in class listening or doing your work; it transitions throughout life. I've seen players in the game that have stayed in the game for 20 years. It’s not all fun and games; it's repetitive, it's mental strain, discipline, it's working hard. It's not all the things that aren't fun but are so much fun to do when you're doing it. I know it sounds quite the antithesis, but it's so boring every day that it's fun! I would say, just do everything that you think isn't fun, and you've got a great chance at doing it and enjoying it.

If you could go back and speak to your 16-year-old self, what would you say?

I would say, "Just keep going." Yes, "Just stick with what you're doing, and in a few years, you'll make decisions, some you'll regret, some you won't. Find good people, you've made a good group of friends that have been with you for 17/18 years, and just stick to your beliefs and what you do, and then just try and behave yourself a little bit more."

Outside of football, what keeps you grounded and motivated?

I love golf; that keeps me very grounded. I've got a decent handicap but have days where I look like I've never played golf before, so it's the most humbling sport of all time. I just don't think you can crack it, which is why I love it. I think because it's competitive, it helps my mental health; golf is all about hitting a bad shot and resetting to make sure it doesn't compound. So it's been really good for me.

Just socializing too, I love a cup of tea with friends; I know I sound so old! If you asked 16-year-old me that, it definitely wouldn't be the answer, but just going to the coffee shop with friends and having a chat. I think I've learned to appreciate the people around me a lot more as I've gotten a little bit older, and just having a cup of tea with people for half an hour is so relaxing to me.

What does success mean to you, and has that definition changed over time?

100% it has changed. Success for me before was winning stuff and getting to a certain level and getting this and getting that; all those material things were a measure of success for me. I think now, success to me is waking up every morning happy. I've learned to appreciate everything every day. That's success for me: embracing every day.

It's clear that the values and experiences gained at Bede's, combined with an unwavering work ethic, have played a pivotal role in shaping this former student's impressive football career and personal growth. His journey serves as an inspiring reminder that dedication, resilience, and a willingness to embrace new challenges can lead to remarkable achievements, both on and off the field.