Ever wanted to know about Rossi Jarvis’s favourite things? Luckily last week, Sean Galea-Pace caught up with Trawlerboys captain Rossi Jarvis and quizzed him on his favourite hobbies, moments and discussed how supporting an Italian football team growing up changed his name!

SGP: Food?
RJ: I’m going to go for spaghetti and meatballs. Do like a bit of Italian. With a little bit of spice though.
SGP: Do you and Ryan sit and have it together?
RJ: He likes loads of different foods compared to me, I like to stick to just one of two things.
SGP: Quite healthy, I assume?
RJ: Yeah, reasonably healthy. The wife’s not a bad cook!
SGP: Music?
RJ: Couldn’t really say to be honest, I could listen to absolutely anything. We get music in the changing room, like rap and house and stuff and I can listen to that but I don’t mind sitting in a car and chilling to some old folk and a bit of rock. So, I’m easy really.
SGP: Film?
RJ: I like Four Brothers. Mark Wahlberg is in that and it’s a good film.
SGP: I haven’t heard of that. What’s it about?
RJ: It’s like a gangster film. (Explains a bit about what it’s about) Yeah I’d probably say Four Brothers, I’d watch that any day of the week.
SGP: Actor or Actress?
RJ: I do like Wahlberg to be honest. Anything he’s in, I’ll watch. He’s in some funny comedies and some great action ones too like Shooter which is another good film I like watching.
SGP: Games console and game to play?
RJ: I’ve got an Xbox. Last time I played on it by myself must have been about four or five years ago. I’ve played it recently with my little boy who’s four.
SGP: Have you managed to play the new FIFA though?
RJ: I haven’t got it unfortunately but I did play it round someone’s and it was good. But the last game I played was Jurassic World Lego!
SGP: Did you enjoy that game? Give it a rating out of 10.
RJ: Yeah I enjoyed it! My little boy knows how to do things better than I do but I enjoyed it. 7/8 out of 10 for sure.
SGP: Does he play any other Lego games? You’ve got Harry Potter, Star Wars etc…
RJ: Nah, he’s just mad about dinosaurs so I thought I’d get him that and every weekend he’s on it.
SGP: Animal?
RJ: Dog. Got myself a dog at home.
SGP: What kind of dog?
RJ: I’ve got a black Labrador but he’s my best friend. He’s quality.
SGP: Hobby away from football?
RJ: I like playing golf, especially in the summer. I’ve played golf a few times with Smudge (Adam Smith) and my brother.
SGP: But who’s better?
RJ: Me! I think it was about 2012 when I last lost. Smudge was close this year though, it came down to the last hole and then lost by two shots but can’t see him beating me any time soon.
SGP: More importantly, who would win at Crazy Golf?
RJ: Probably my brother because he’s a lucky so and so!*
SGP: Holiday destination?
RJ: Probably where I went for my honeymoon which was the Maldives. Lovely place, it was nice, relaxing and exotic. We’re going away to Santorini next year for my wife’s 30th and that’s supposed to be lovely as well so I’m looking forward to that.
SGP: Moment in football?
RJ: Winning the JPT at Wembley with Luton Town which was pretty amazing in front of 55,000 people and I think that stands out for me.
SGP: What about making your debut for Norwich, where does that rank? Was that against West Ham in the FA Cup in 2006?
RJ: That was my full debut. I got absolutely ran around by Matt Etherington and Paul Konchesky in the first half, Hendo didn’t help me one bit because he was playing right wing and I was playing right-back. But second half I played well and I remember Micky Spillane coming on for me in the last five minutes and I think that was his debut too.
SGP: Did Spillane and Chris Martin play in that same JPH winning side with you?
RJ: Yeah they were. I got them there actually, on loan. Luton needed a couple of players in those positions at the time and it was a bit of a risk at the time because they were both a bit hot-headed, young and immature but it worked out and both had unbelievable seasons.
SGP: Player in world football?
RJ: I don’t really watch much football which must sound a bit strange. I’d say my favourite current player is Michael Carrick, just because I think he’s so underrated for what he does. I know he’s not a skilful or flamboyant player but he does so many things that people don’t recognise to make the team tick. So he’d be my current favourite player but as a kid I always loved Paulo Maldini, I used to play left-back when I was younger and didn’t really support anyone English, I just really liked AC Milan which was a strange one.
SGP: Any reason as to why you chose AC Milan?
RJ: I don’t know really. I think with my name being Rossi, I thought I had some Italian in me. Unfortunately, I didn’t.
SGP: Where did the name Rossi come from? Did your parents just like the name?
RJ: Well, my birth name is Ross. But as I was growing up people just called me Rossi and it just stuck and now even on my driving licence it says Rossi.
SGP: Favourite ever game seen live?
RJ: That’s a tough question! Maybe not necessarily game but definitely the moment was Beckham’s free-kick against Greece in 2002. Looking back, it just gave me goosebumps. In terms of games you can name a few, any of the El-Clasico’s they’re always unbelievable.
SGP: Game ever played in?
RJ: It was for Norwich actually, when I played in the second half against Inter Milan in a friendly. I was against Stankovic and Cambiasso in midfield and they were world-class.
SGP: Trawlerboy teammate and why?
RJ: Can’t say my brother really. That’s another hard one, bit of favouritism here. I’d probably have to go with my little rat of a midfielder next to me Fisky. Just because he does so much running for me and I’d probably have to say him because on the pitch you don’t have to tell him to go here or go there, you literally know where he’s going to be and if you mess up you know he’s going to help cover you. What I like about him is that you know what you’re going to get from him and even if he’s playing poorly, you know you’re going to get 100% from him.

Sean Galea-Pace