I played alongside Cesc Fabregas and Robin van Persie.. now I’m hoping to lead one of FA Cup’s biggest ever shocks

NO ONE on the pitch at Portman Road tomorrow can boast a better football pedigree than Maidstone captain Gavin Hoyte.

During the 33-year-old right-back’s career he has rubbed shoulders and played with some of the game’s greats.

Gavin Hoyte hopes his Arsenal experiences can help Maidstone beat Ipswich in the FA Cup

Hoyte played alongside some top names during his time at the Emirates

Former Arsenal kid Hoyte has:

Trained with the likes of Thierry Henry, Robert Pires, Jens Lehmann and Freddie Ljungberg

Has a brother, Justin, who was a member of the Gunners’ 2004 Invincibles squad, and went on to play alongside him in the first team

Played for legendary boss Arsene Wenger alongside the likes of Cesc Fabregas, Robin van Persie, Gael Clichy, William Gallas and Mikele Silvestre – including in the Premier League

Worked under Brendan Rodgers, Gus Poyet and was coached by Frank Lampard Snr – and played for Peter Taylor, the man who famously made David Beckham England captain.

And for as good as tomorrow’s FA Cup opponents Ipswich are under Kieran McKenna, no one in their squad can boast that.

Hoyte told SunSport: “I was fortunate to have such grounding – but it’s ironic I’m now captaining a Maidstone team that has got further in the FA Cup than Arsenal.”

The Gunners were knocked out by Liverpool in the third round while sixth-tier Maidstone caused the upset of the season so far by dumping out League One high-fliers Stevenage.

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Gavin Hoyte with his brother and Arsenal team-mate Justin

Gavin Hoyte tussling with Gael Clichy in training for Arsenal

And it was Hoyte’s time in North London that shines brightest on his CV.

He said: “I was at Arsenal from the age of nine through to almost 22.

“My brother Justin is five-and-half years older and was an inspiration. Our dad and I went to Highbury to watch his debut and loads of his games.

“We were so proud of him and I got that feeling that I wanted to do what he was doing too.

“Justin broke into the Arsenal team during the Invincibles season. He was my role model.

“I’ll never forget when he later scored his first and only goal against Charlton in the Premier League at the Emirates.”

While a scholar, starry-eyed Hoyte had the pleasure of training with four members of the Invincibles – and also got to hang out in their changing room.

He said: “I trained with Henry, Pires, Ljungberg and Lehmann, which was unbelievable.

“While my brother was in the first team, I’d go into the dressing room. Thierry would always know my name and come to speak with me. He’d shake hands and ask how I was.

“I remember him talking to us scholars about himself and football. His big advice was about being professional, going about things the right way, coming in every day and training properly.

“Lehmann was also great because he’d demand a lot from the youth players.”

Gavin Hoyte was around some of the biggest names in world football

Gavin Hoyte sits on the bench for the Gunners during his time at the club

Hoyte went on to play alongside his brother in the first team on a pre-season tour of Austria in 2007.

He said: “It was one of the proudest moments of my life.”

And they were in the squad together for the 2007-08 campaign before Justin was sold to Middlesbrough for £3million in August 2008.

But the younger Hoyte stayed and broke into the first team, making four starts – including one in the Premier League against Manchester City.

And he vividly remembers how Arsene Wenger put him at ease ahead of his top-flight debut.

Hoyte said: “Every time Arsene spoke, you listened. He gave so many opportunities to younger players.

“When he first named me on the bench in February 2007 in the FA Cup at Blackburn I was 16.

“But the moment that stuck out for me was my Premier League debut in 2008.

“We sat down before the game in the dressing room. I was next to Clichy and he asked him, ‘Do you remember your first game?’ Arsene reminded him he got man of the match. It was a way of easing my nerves.

“He said, ‘Relax, just keep doing what you’re doing. You’ve been doing well, that’s why you’re in the team, that’s why you’re starting.’”

Hoyte was close to Clichy and Gallas – and added: “Gael was great with the younger boys and William was always telling me what I needed to do.

“I came on for one of the games and he was telling me to relax and keep talking on the pitch. So those two stood out.

“We had some great players in that dressing room. Theo Walcott, Kolo Toure. There was Olivier Giroud, Phillippe Senderos, Emmanuel Eboue, Bacary Sagna, Moussa Diaby and obviously Cesc Fabregas.”

Hoyte then got loaned to Watford for half a season and played for Rodgers during his first-ever managerial role with Lampard Snr coaching him.

And while at Vicarage Road, the club played Chelsea in the FA Cup.

Robin van Persie was one of the stars that was Gavin Hoyte’s team-mate

Cesc Fabregas exploded on to the scene while Gavin Hoyte was at Arsenal

Gavin Hoyte strolls out to warm up for Arsenal alongside Theo Walcott

The right-back said: “I was one of Rodgers’ first signings. He knew me from his time as Chelsea reserves manager when they played us. He told me I was a good and quick defender.

“Frank Lampard snr was big for me there. He was almost like a dad, constantly getting me to do extras.

“The Chelsea game was an incredible experience. We were up against Ashley Cole, Kalou, Anelka, Drogba and Lampard. We were even in front at one point but lost 3-1.”

Former Chelsea and Tottenham star Poyet was Hoyte’s manager at Brighton where he spent a season on loan.

He said: “He and his assistant Mauricio Taricco were constantly drumming into me the need to stop crosses. At that stage of my career, I hadn’t played much at right back so was learning that position.”

Taylor was his manager at Gillingham and Dagenham although Hoyte admitted: “I didn’t get to play regularly under him.”

Hoyte has been with Maidstone for four and a half years – and replaced Stones boss George Elokobi as captain when the ex-Wolves star hung up his boots.

And he has only words of praise for Elokobi, who has led them to the fourth round for the first time in their history.

He said: “As soon as George walks into the room, you feel his presence.

“I used to carpool with him. I learned so much from him driving in.

“He lives in Halstead while I’m in Brentwood, about halfway to Maidstone.

“There were four of us in the carpool and everyday he would get there first! I live a minute away from where we used to meet but he was still getting there before me! And I’m thinking ‘he lives so far away, how’s this happening?’

“It’s little things like that, being such a professional. Even at his age he was still doing things how he did in the Premier League.”