After progressing through the Academy ranks at Cobham, this is Cumming’s first experience of senior men’s football following a season in which he was Frank Lampard’s third choice between the sticks.

Stevenage were spared relegation from the Football League in 2019/20 only due to Bury’s expulsion from League One and have spent the first half of this campaign battling to keep themselves outside the drop zone.

A difficult start has been followed by an upturn in form and results, which has seen them claim eight points from their past five matches over the Christmas period, while an FA Cup run inspired by Cumming’s penalty shootout heroics has handed them a third round tie against Championship high-fliers Swansea City this weekend.

Ahead of that match, we caught up with Cumming to discuss his first taste of life on loan, the differences he has encountered between Academy and League Two football, and the prospect of facing a long-time team-mate tomorrow…

Firstly Jamie, how have you found your first experience on loan as we approach the halfway point of the season?

‘I think I’ve settled in really well. I was lucky with the group of lads that I’ve come into because they’ve all welcomed me. The first thing you have to do when you come from a big academy is show people how good you are to earn their respect.

‘I’ve already played 25 games overall, which is probably the most games I’ve played in a season and it’s only January so it’s very full-on. You have to adapt the way you train but it’s all about playing games and gaining that experience so I’m really enjoying it at the moment.’

Some players have to wait for an opportunity but you’ve started all but one game for Stevenage so far this season. How important has that show of faith by manager Alex Revell been for you?

‘That was one of the biggest factors of me getting it done and signing straight away early in pre-season because the club showed the faith in me that I was going to play and they were going to make me number one. Obviously when you have that confidence from the manager, it gives you a lot of belief in yourself and it was just up to me to prove him right.

‘So far, I feel I’ve been pretty consistent and my performances have been at a pretty high level so I’m happy with how I’m doing at the moment but obviously there’s lots of room for improvement. This is my first season in men’s football so obviously there’s a lot to work on but I’m learning from every game and that’s the main thing.’

Not many go on their first loans in the middle of a global pandemic. Has that made things more challenging for you?

‘It’s just allowed me to focus on football really. I can’t go out anywhere, I can’t do anything so there are no distractions. It’s just been football, football, football and I’ve really enjoyed it. Just getting into that routine of playing Saturday, Tuesday, Saturday, Tuesday is a really good feeling, especially being able to play every game. It’s something I’m really enjoying at the moment and hopefully it can continue.

‘I’ve obviously missed playing in front of fans for most of the season so far. We’ve had a couple of games – Southend at home and Carlisle away, which was probably my only bad game this season. That was a first experience for me of having a bad game in front of fans giving you stick but it was something I’ll learn from.’

- There is more on another of our loan players in the video below

Stevenage are currently just outside the relegation zone on goal difference but with games in hand on the teams around you. After playing for so many years for a club like Chelsea, how do you adapt to fighting for points near the bottom?

‘It’s totally different. Growing up in Chelsea’s Academy, you pretty much win every game and the keeper never really has much to do, especially in a team like the one I was playing in with all the talent we had. Going to League Two with a team that struggled last year and started off not so great this year, I think it’s a completely different pressure on you as a keeper because you have a load more to do, there’s lots more responsibility on you and I really enjoy that personally.

‘I enjoy taking ownership, being an important player in the team and knowing that if we want to win games then most of the time I have to play well. That’s a feeling I enjoy. Things are starting to turn in the last few weeks, we’ve had a couple of wins and everyone is a bit more positive so we’re hoping we can make a run now and climb up the table.’

You also recently won the club’s Player of the Month award for November. How did that feel to receive some individual recognition?

‘It’s nice to receive an award like that, which is voted by the fans. I was nominated two months before that, which shows how consistent I’ve been so far. That’s the main thing a manager wants from a keeper, especially in a team that are struggling a bit. You want a keeper who is consistent and you can rely upon so I’m just hoping I can continue that.’

What have been the main differences in keeping goal for Chelsea Academy teams to League Two? You have to kick the ball a lot more often and a lot further, for starters!

‘Yeah definitely. At the end of last season, I was preparing for it with the coaches at Chelsea because we knew going to a lower league that’s what I’d have to do but I don’t think anything can quite prepare you for how many times you actually have to kick the ball as far as you can in a game.

‘It’s something that lots of people don’t realise but I’ve definitely improved that aspect of my game. It’s a lot about managing yourself during the week, making sure you do the right recovery work, strength work and prehab work to make sure you don’t get injured. So far it’s all been working well because I haven’t really felt anything or had an injury this season so hopefully that remains the case and I continue to play every game.’

Looking ahead to the FA Cup this weekend, you’ve featured quite prominently in this run to the third round, making penalty shootout saves against Concord Rangers and Hull City. How was your first taste of the FA Cup?

‘You can tell when you play an FA Cup game because it means a lot to everyone, especially in the second round when we were playing a bigger side in Hull. We were all up for the game and we knew how much it would mean to the fans to get to the third round so I think that plays a big part in motivating us all.’

Some Chelsea fans will remember your shootout heroics for the Under-19s in the UEFA Youth League. You’re getting a bit of a reputation as a shootout specialist…

‘It’s always nice when it goes to penalties because it can be your moment as a goalkeeper and luckily it was in that Hull game. I’ve got quite a good record in big penalty shootouts, which is always a good thing, so I wouldn’t be complaining if the Swansea game went that way, that’s for sure.

‘Research is important but in the Hull game, that all went out the window! I dived the wrong way for the ones we did research on and actually saved the ones we had no research on so I think mainly it just comes down to your instinct and believing it’s going to be your moment. If you don’t believe, then it probably isn’t going to happen for you.’

And the shootout save against Hull that clinched victory was also voted Save of the Round…

‘I’m not sure it was the best save in the round but it probably was the most important save. I actually made a better save in the game but I’ll take it.’

You’re used to playing alongside players you grew up with but not so much against them. However, that is set to happen this weekend when you host Marc Guehi and high-flying Swansea. How much are you looking forward to coming up against him?

‘It’s going to be a massive challenge. They’re a really good team and even if they make changes, we know it’s going to be tough but it’s a game with no pressure on us. It’s almost like a free hit so it’s a great chance to show what we can all do on a big stage.

‘It will be great to play against Marc if he does play. I’ve seen he’s been doing really well and I’m sure he’s going to go a long way in the game because he’s got everything that it takes. I’ll give him a message before to ask if he’s playing but I’m not sure he’s going to give too much away!

‘I hope he takes a penalty against me actually because we’ve done that for years so that would be cool if that happens.’