Tristan Plummer, now a familiar face on Channel 4's Gogglebox, was once a promising footballer who attracted interest from Premier League giants Arsenal and Chelsea. The 33-year-old, who appears on the show alongside his brothers Tremaine and Twaine, came through Bristol City's youth academy and caught the eye of top clubs as a teenager.
Plummer recalled that after an impressive FA Youth Cup performance at age 14 or 15, Bristol City kept him away from Chelsea scouts who were watching the game. Arsenal later made an approach, but the Robins set a high asking price of around £1-2 million, which the Gunners declined, instead signing Theo Walcott from Southampton. Plummer admitted the situation scared him, as he had not yet signed a professional contract and feared being left without a club.
Despite the interest, Plummer never made a senior appearance for Bristol City. He was released in 2010 and had spells in Portugal and non-league football in England. He also represented England at under-17 level, featuring as a substitute in the European Championship final against Spain, which featured a young David de Gea and Bojan.
Reflecting on his career, Plummer told Bristol Live: 'I don't regret it because I have two beautiful kids now. Maybe if I moved away, I wouldn't have had them and now I'm doing other things that I enjoy doing. Maybe I could have been in a better position financially but at the end of the day my happiness is more important.' He added that playing for the academy was the best time of his life.
