‘LARGE’, ‘dangerous’, ‘brutish’ and ‘untamed’ – they’re just some of the words associated with the Oxford English Dictionary’s definition of the term ‘beast’.

They may not come across as the most flattering of terms but for a powerful and uncompromising centre-half such as Jerel Ifil, perhaps it’s little surprise that his moniker stuck.

Characterised as an all-or-nothing defender during his time in the heart of Swindon’s defence, Ifil had his fair share of disciplinary issues but always left everything on the pitch, endearing himself to the County Ground faithful in the process.

And Ifil credits former Town striker Sam Parkin as the architect behind his acclaimed nickname.

“When I was on loan, this is when Sam Parkin and Stef Miglioranzi and all those guys were here, I was always told train as you play,” said the former Town man.

“So I used to go into training quite proud. If you were trying to nutmeg me in training, expect to be on the floor because that will happen in a game.

“My disciplinary record when I was young – I got sent off twice and got 15 yellow cards in a season – wasn’t great because I was too proud.

“People told me I wasn’t going to make it and I was playing semi-professional at Hendon when I was 15 before I got picked up by Watford.

“People were always saying to me that ‘you’re not ready’ and’ you’re too raw’.

“Anyone coming up against me, it was like ‘I’m just going to smash you’ because I had the mentality of ‘I’m going to show you I’m good enough’ because of people telling me ‘I’m not good enough’.

“I’m a physical player and that means you’re going to end up on the floor, so in training, a lot of people ended up on the floor.

“And I think it was Sam Parkin that said ‘he’s a beast’ or something like that to someone in the papers. Because he was quite high-profile at the time, it stuck.”