'A bit too big to play football' but Iyogun is thriving with Saints
During his football career, former Cobblers striker Adebayo Akinfenwa continually proved his critics wrong.
Many said he was 'too big to play football' so he took that phrase and used it as fuel – even putting it on a t-shirt that he unveiled during goal celebrations.
Akinfenwa’s professional football career eventually spanned 22 years and included more than 200 goals across nearly 800 senior appearances in English football.
Saints prop Manny Iyogun can empathise with Akinfenwa as he too was told his size would be an obstacle when he played football as a child.
However, that eventually also had its benefits for Chelsea fan Iyogun as he decided to switch from playing at centre-back to pursuing a life in rugby union.
Now, having just signed a new deal at Saints, he is a fully fledged England rugby international.
And he couldn't be happier with the journey he has been on in the oval ball game.
"I've had some tough years at times, being in the front row and being young, learning and developing," Iyogun said.
"But I've stuck at it and I think I'm in a good position now to keep learning and keep that rise going.
"This club is so good at giving you the opportunity to learn and develop, and not punishing you for mistakes.
"It's something (Saints head coach) Sam Vesty is really good at in terms of actually supporting young players through being better rugby players and not overloading people with knowledge, just understanding what a player is like, what they need and what areas they need to be better.
"Everyone here is constantly striving to be better and we've got such a competitive group so it only makes for people getting better."
Iyogun's life story is an interesting one as he was actually born in Madrid.
He explained: "My dad moved over to Spain with my mum from Nigeria for work opportunities and then they kindled up there, got married, had my sister and me then we moved over to the UK. That's where the journey began.
"I was pretty young when I moved to the UK, about three years old. We initially moved to Glasgow, a place called Govan, which, any Glaswegian will tell you, is a pretty rough place.
"I lived for a few years in Glasgow, moved down to London and then eventually back to Essex, settling down in a place called Basildon.
"I started off playing rugby pretty late. I started playing football but my football career got short when my teacher said I was a bit too big to play football.
"But then I started at my local rugby club when I was about 14, 15.
"You don't often sit and look back but from my journey and how late I started, I've enjoyed the journey and how difficult it's been, but I think there's still more to go."
Iyogun has become a key member of Saints' front row since coming through the club's Academy.
And he couldn't be happier to have extended his stay at DPD Stadium at Franklin's Gardens.
"It was a bit of a no-brainer for me," said the 25-year-old.
"It's my boyhood club, I love the lads, love the coaches so it was an easy decision."
So important has Iyogun become that he was rested for last Sunday's Investec Champions Cup opener against Cardiff Rugby, with huge Gallagher PREM battles against Leicester Tigers and Gloucester beckoning.
It was a good chance for the loosehead prop to take some time away, though he was back for the Cardiff clash as he was named as a travelling reserve.
"I had my friend Jack's engagement party so I managed to get down to that on Saturday, which was very nice, very wholesome, and then I travelled back because I was travelling reserve so I watched the boys play on Sunday and I think they were awesome," Iyogun said.
"Defensively, I think they were so good on Sunday and it was actually quite nice to watch from the stands."
From his seat, Iyogun watched on in delight as fellow loosehead Danilo Fischetti turned on the turbos, charging down the right wing to tackle a Cardiff player in their own 22 and win a penalty.
"I went into him (Fischetti) at half-time, gave him a little pat on the back and said 'you're doing crazy stuff'," Iyogun said, smiling.
"It's a bit of privilege (to be rested) to be honest because with such a busy schedule you do have to go back-to-back and in a week where you can have a rest and also get Danny playing absolutely out of his socks, it just makes the group better and more competitive, and it makes no one complacent so it's a massive positive for our squad."
Having had the chance to rest and reset, Iyogun is now hungry to return to action for the massive Gallagher PREM match against Leicester Tigers at Mattioli Woods Welford Road on Saturday afternoon (kick-off 3.05pm).
"If you watched us train today you would get a sense of what sort of week it is," Iyogun said at Tuesday’s pre-match media session.
"I personally have had tougher experiences at Welford Road and I can't really remember a time we've won there, but it's just a case of not letting the occasion overwhelm you, going out there, taking in the atmosphere and the hostility for what it is.
"It is a physical game and the most physical, brutal team ends up winning the game, so it's about relishing that.
"The lads are looking forward to this game and enough boys have played in this fixture to understand what you need to do to end up winning this fixture."