How does James get roped into playing for the team?
He has been helping to coach the team and then a few people have to drop out and they suggest that he plays for them. He isn't sure as he shouldn’t really be playing for them but it is for charity and he’s a nice guy so he does what he feels is the right thing.
How is the game going before he collapses?
They aren't doing too well at first, the other team are better than them and James is running up and down the length of the pitch. They have just taken the lead back off the other team and James is running back to Shona in goal when he just collapses.
What was it like filming those scenes?
It was a long day getting all the football match scenes in and knowing we had the collapse scenes to film. We had a great director Brett Fallis who had a vision of how he wanted it to look and he showed me some ideas of what he wanted so I knew what was required. I just wanted to make sure I did it justice and that it looks authentic.
How bad does it look for James?
It is really touch and go, he has had a cardiac arrest and there is no defib machine nearby so it is down to Michael to give him CPR whilst they are waiting for the ambulance to come. The paramedics manage to get his heart restarted and he is rushed to hospital. Everyone is really shocked.
Has he been feeling unwell? Or does it just come out of nowhere?
I think it just comes out of nowhere. Obviously he is a fit young man, he is used to playing football and running around, so there's no real signs of it from anywhere. It's just completely out of the blue.
What happens when they get to the hospital?
James is told he’s got cardiomyopathy. And then he's told that he's got to be fitted with an ICD to prevent further cardiac arrests. I guess for James, as a footballer, he kind of has a reference point because obviously he's seen Erickson – as we all saw in the European championships – pretty much the same thing happened to him, and he was then fitted with an ICD. Obviously it's scary going to have surgery. But I think he also knows that going through this process gives him hope, and belief that he will be okay and he'll be back to full health.
Is he worried that he may never play football again?
He is really worried, he has had injury scares before but this is another level and he is anxious for what the future holds if he hasn’t got football any more.
Aggie isn’t at the match when it all happens, so does she feel guilty about that?
Yeah, I imagine she does. But the main thing is that he's okay, I think it would have been much, much worse for her if it had been the other way. But he's okay, she's seen her boy again. I think for her, it's the fear of it happening again. So maybe she's more swayed towards him never playing football again. Or even run up the stairs!
What options are open to James if he can’t play football again?
I don't think he can imagine himself working for his dad or pulling pints in the Rovers, football and sport if all he has ever known. When he was injured last time he got his coaching qualifications so that is an option. Ideally though he wants to go back to playing once he has recovered, but that also lies in the hands of Weatherfield County and the manager so it is a scary time for him.
What was your reaction when this story was pitched to you?
I've been lucky and super grateful I've been given some great stories since I joined so it is brilliant to have another one that might help people. It feels nice and humbling that people trust you with these stories. So hopefully I've done it justice.
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