JAMES Tomkins says it feels like yesterday he was making his debut for West Ham United having clocked up 200 appearances for the club.

The Basildon-born defender, who went to the former Chalvedon School has been an integral part of the Hammers squad since he first pulled on the famous jersey almost seven years ago.

And he has been looking back on a career that has seen his suffer the heartbreak of relegation, the highs of a play-off win and scoring his first goal for the East London side.

The date was March 22, 2008, when the 18-year-old stepped out at Goodison Park to make his debut, having been given the opportunity by then manager Alan Curbishley.

Although he admits the occasion was a mixed-bag, as he was a matter of inches away from opening his account for the club on his first appearance, before being at fault for the game’s opening goal.

“I didn’t know I was in the team until about 10 minutes before kick-off,” said Tomkins. “I remember it so well. I hit the bar and I remember at that point thinking about the headlines and what they could have been the next day.

“But, on the other side of that, I was an eager lad, only being 18 and making my debut, and Yakubu made the most of that.”

Tomkins was referring to Everton’s opening goal in the 1-1 draw when he rushed out to try to win a header but was turned by the Nigerian who went on to score.

“He finished it off and that is the other experience and emotions of it. I was at fault for that but we got the equaliser later which I was pleased about.

“It feels like yesterday I made my debut but hopefully there will be plenty more appearances to come.”

And Tomkins, who is now 25, said he appreciated being given the chance to make an impression on the first team.

“The first year is key for your development,” he added. “If you have bad moments a manager could decide to get rid of you if you aren’t learning and I knew I would have to learn due to the physical nature of the league.

“And I knew I would have to learn quickly if I was to make a career out of it.”

And that is what he has done, endearing himself to Upton Park faithful with his first goal for the club just over a year after making his bow, on April 4, 2009.

“I remember the game so well. I have pictures up in my house of it and to celebrate it in front of my family and see my dad going mad and the rest of my family meant a lot. They have given so much so I felt as though I owed them that goal.

“The ball was quite far out and I knew I would have to go and attack it. Luckily enough for me it has made good contact and it’s gone in.”

Tomkins said his lowest point in the game to date was May 15, 2011.

West Ham needed to beat Wigan Athletic to consolidate their place in the Premier League, and they got off to a flying start, taking an early two goal lead, before going on to lose 3-2.

“We had had a difficult season,” he said. “I was still young but it wasn’t a good day. We started well and I got an assist early on and at that moment the feeling was unbelievable. We just needed to hang on but the referee gave them a foul when it might not have been and I had a feeling (Charles) N’Zogbia was going to put it in the top corner.

“When they equalise you are down and feeling glum and you have to think you could nick a goal but they got another and that was it.”

The Hammers returned to the Championship after six years mixing it with the elite of English football, and Tomkins said they got what they deserved.

“We didn’t deserve to stay in the league that season and to bounce back straight away doesn’t happen very often,” he said. “There is a feeling in your stomach you don’t want to experience and I promised myself I wouldn’t experience that again and that was why I stayed true to West Ham.

“You see a lot of people go and try and find Premier League football elsewhere but we all felt responsible and I wanted to be part of a promotion push.”

But 2011/12 was when Tomkins really made his mark on the first-team, forming an impressive partnership with Winston Reid, making 47 appearances in total.

He scored the opening goal in a 4-0 rout of Watford in the third match of the season, with the Hammers marauding to a third place finish, and a play-off final date at Wembley against Blackpool, which they won 2-1.

“It was unbelievable,” he reminisced. “When I think about happy times in my career this is the first one that pops into my head. We had such great support and we got a good start. Coley (Carlton Cole) scored some vital goals for us and I thought we would go on to win. He could have done whatever he wanted!

“I was over the moon. It is hard to talk about it now and put it into words. It gives me goosebumps and is emotional. My family was all there and they always say it was the best day out for them.”

Since then Tomkins has kicked on, notching up 15 appearances this term, his most recent game against Arsenal marking appearance number 200.

Tomkins got an assist that day in a 2-1 defeat, although he says the highlight this year came on December 2, in a 2-1 win at West Bromwich Albion.

“Scoring there is the highlight from this year so far,” he said. “I don’t think I have scored a winning goal before and the points were so vital. I remember almost busting my nose on the back of Craig Dawson’s head but it was worth it and hopefully the run can continue.”

West Ham have been in superb form this season under Sam Allardyce, sitting seventh at the halfway point having occupied a Champions League place for much of December.

And Tomkins now wants to guide them “I want to clock up more appearances but I am proud of this milestone and now I have to add some more, if I stay injury free.

“Now I need to challenge Nobes (Mark Noble) for his milestone of the most Premier League appearances for the club (205) but that is a way off yet!”