Defender Luke Trotman chats about his life in football and his adventures on ITV series Love Island.

Here are his answers to some of the questions that we've been sent already -- we'd like to thank everyone for sending questions in, and Luke for answering them.

Watch out for updates throughout the evening!

By the way, you can enter the Darlo Fans Lottery here

https://darlingtonfc.co.uk/news/join-the-dfc-fans-lottery-draw

and you can buy a season ticket in instalments here

https://darlingtonfc.co.uk/news/2021-season-ticket-update

We'd like to thank Luke for taking the time to answer the questions

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From Keir Davidson

What inspired you to become a footballer?

I just played football because all my friends did really,

If you could play for any team in Scotland who would it be?  I would have to say Celtic

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   From Luke McIntosh 

What has been your favourite game when playing for Darlington? 

I really enjoyed when we beat York 5-1 at home!

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  From Matthew McGuire

Hi Luke, are you planning to play your football next season as normal even with all of the fame ? Matthew 

Yeah football and finishing my degree are definitely still in my plans  

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 From Cameron Ritchie

How does it feel after coming out of a show like Love Island and when will we be expecting you back in a Darlington top?  

It’s a surreal experience, I really enjoyed it and everything is up in the air at the minute so I’m not too sure.

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 From Ruth Hetherington 

Hi Luke hope you and Siannise are well and staying safe. Who did you look up to football player- wise growing up and who do you admire in the game presently? 

I always looked up to Thierry Henry and my cousin Leon Barnett, and my favourite player still playing is Marcelo

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 From Neil Raper 

 I understand that you're in your final year at university. How have you managed to balance your studies with your time in Love Island and post-Love Island?

I’ve had to defer my year at uni which i can finish when suitable.

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What are you hoping to do following graduation?

Following graduation there are numerous avenues, I’m just continuing to work hard in rehab, my degree and the work coming from the show and see where life takes me.

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Why did you decide to enter Love Island?

They asked me to go on the show and I was injured and single so I thought why not.

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What did the club say when you told them that you had entered?

I asked them before I confirmed my place on the show and they said it’s fine as long as I continue my rehab.

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Did you have to do any auditions?

Yeah there are numerous auditions even though they asked me to go on the show

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Where did you stay before going to the island?

In Luton, then in lockdown in South Africa from the 3rd of January

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Do the bombshells watch the show before going in?

Yeah we do and we have to tell the producers our top 3 before we go in

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Where are all the clothes from as you didn’t go in with a suitcase but you left with one?

I went in with 3 suitcases they just don’t show it

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Were you told to discuss certain things in different locations in the villa?

Only for camera purposes so they could catch everything

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Did you get treatment for your injury when you were in Love Island?

I did my rehab programme in the villa gym

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Was it love at first sight for you and Siannise?

I don’t believe in love at first sight but I do love her

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Are you still going to Disney when you can?

Yeah hopefully, I love Disneyland

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Does Siannise follow football at all? Did she know that you were a footballer when you first went on to the Island?

She doesn’t really follow football, and I don’t really say I’m a footballer much so I don’t think so

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Were you disappointed that you didn’t win?

I’m quite a competitive person so I always want to win, but Paige and Finn fully deserved it and I felt like I won finding Siannise

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There was talk of you getting married at Windsor Castle – will that happen still?

Who knows! *wink*

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How much support have you had from your family?

My family support everything I do massively, when I ruptured my Achilles my sister drove 10 hour round trip to pick me up and then my mum did the same on a coach to collect my car.

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From Dylan Jenkinson

How was the Love Island experience and have you missed the football?  

Love Island experience was amazing and I’ll never forget it and I do miss being on the pitch

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From Steve Bishop

How has your life changed since the show & your approach to football?

It’s surreal people always asking for selfies and such, and a lot of opportunities have opened but I still have goals in football and my degree

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What's your most memorable game playing for Darlo?

York 5-1 win at home

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Have you persuaded Luke M to follow the Quakers next season? 

I was actually going to bring him to a game but because of corona it didn’t happen -- he’s from Redcar 

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From John Vickerman

1. What have you learned from taking part in Love Island ?

I think love island has taught me to be more confident, it’s taught me how to deal with opinions and it’s taught me to always take risks in life. 

2. Which Darlington player definitely should not go on LI and why !

that is a tough question, I would say everyone would do well on there because I think football gives you a good mindset to go In there with as we’re already used to be judged every week.  But if I have to answer I would say Omar because I reckon he would lose his head, it gets tough in there 

3. When do you hope to be training again ?

I think post corona I should be back fit, I’m still working out regularly to stay as fit and strong as possible. I’ll just have to ease back in due to my Achilles 

4. Do you see yourself getting back into England C ? 

 i think the age limit is 24 so I hopefully get another chance to join the lads again, I really enjoyed both games with them! 

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From Archie Lyonette, Abi Ward, James Archer, Oliver Armstrong, Richard Matthews, Steve Bishop

Luke you have been very unlucky with your injury but have been supported by the football club both for your recovery and for allowance to appear on to the Love Island program. 

We understand you wish to further your football career which has been cut short by the injury at the start of the season. How do you see next season ?? Obviously the Darlo fans would love to see you playing for us again for as long as possible ??

I think next season depends on a lot of things, at the minute I’m just assessing the situation day by day. The only doubts I have would be the distance because it’s an 8-10 hour round trip to training and games for me which has been tough for the last 2.5 years especially doing it alone when the other southern lads left.

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From Stuart Atkinson

I was hoping for great things from you this season then came the injury. So pleased the club stood by you & then approved you going on Love Island.

Whilst there you said you’d be happy to move to where Sianese is in Bristol, then on Twitter it was reported that you were looking at houses near Luton.

If either is true then can that fit with you sticking by Darlo next season, & so acknowledging the club’s support this season?

We all want you to return & to maybe introduce Sianese to the crowd on the seasons first home game!!

So please tell us what your thinking is?

Yeah this season hasn’t gone as expected for anyone I don’t think! I think I just have to take things day by day and see what happens, my only doubts would be the distance I’m travelling as it’s been quite tough especially doing it alone. 

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From Joanne Cameron and Mitch Glover

What did Luke, Mitch and the other lads used to do when they were all in ‘car school ‘ together?

We used to get through about 2/3 albums each time often signing our hearts out! 

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From Paul Bradshaw

If you had to pick a member of the current playing squad to apply for Love Island 2021 who would you choose and why?

I would have to say Holmsey, I reckon he would do well in there! 

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From Graham O’Neill

I'm sure I am speaking for every Darlington fan out there and many are wondering...

Are you looking forward to a promotion challenge with Darlington in the new season? 

I definitely believe there’s the quality in the changing room to get promoted next year! I think the Gaffer has come in a done a fantastic job and I’m just assessing the situation day by day with everything at the moment. 

Is Siannise looking forward to coming to Darlington to watch you play!? 

Yeah she was due to come up with me before corona took over everything! 

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From Adam Sutcliffe

'Hi Luke. I remember only too well the long rehabilitation following an operation for an injury. Months of mind-numbing single leg work due to muscle wastage. How did you keep yourself motivated and positive during the tough first few months of slow progress?'

This is my second major injury so I think that helped me a lot knowing how to deal with it mentally. I read a lot of personal development books which helped me a lot, the obstacle is the way is probably my favourite. 

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From Carolyn Liversedge

What sort of job are you looking for in the future?

I think I’m just going to see what route suits me best. Finish my degree, get back playing, and continue to utilise the opportunities made available from the show.

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From Mike Heseltine

1. Jamie Carragher famously said "no-one grows up dreaming of being Gary Neville/playing fullback". What other positions did you play growing up through the levels of youth and were you any good?

I was a centre mid growing up until about the age of 15 then whenever I played up with the first team I always went right back then it went from there. 

2. Will Hatfield mentioned in the last Netcafe that he could also have possibly made it as a cricketer? Did you show promise in any other sports?

My school never played any football we weren’t allowed. Only rugby, so I was quite into that. Owen Farrell and Maro Itoje both went to my school. 

Other than rugby possibly 400 metres but I just found football the most rewarding. 

3. Finally, in a sprint competition between Darlo's current squad? Who is taking Gold, Silver and Bronze? Who is dead last (excluding goalkeepers)? I'm backing Donowa for Gold but think you might be in the mix for a medal!

Justin for the gold, I reckon I’d nick silver at the line off Adam, dead last I think I’m gonna go with laingy (sorry Laingy) 

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From Hani Bakir

What was your best moment of the Love Island Villa?

I would have to say the castle final date and then the talent show. That day was unreal!

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And that's it -- we'd like to thank everyone for taking part in the netcafe tonight, and to Luke for answering a huge numbers of questions.

Stay safe everyone.