hiː wʌz ˈɔːlsoʊ ɐ tˈæləntᵻd fˈʊtbɔːl plˈeɪɚ, plˈeɪɪŋ wɪð ɹˈɑːðɚɹˌæm juːnˈaɪɾᵻd ˈɛf.sˈiː.ˈɛs ˌʌndɚ sˈɪkstiːn z tˈiːm, bˌʌt dˈaʊnɪŋ wʌz kənvˈɪnst tə bɪkˌʌm ɐ pɹəfˈɛʃənəl sˈaɪklɪst baɪ mˈɪlk ɹˈeɪs wˈɪnɚ kɹˈɪs wˈɔːkɚ, hˌuː dˈaʊnɪŋ tɹˈeɪnd wɪð dˈʊɹɹɪŋ hɪz lˈeɪt tˈiːnz.
He was also a talented football player, playing with Rotherham United F.C.'s under-16s team, but Downing was convinced to become a professional cyclist by Milk Race winner Chris Walker, who Downing trained with during his late teens.