Football Trials Quotes

I was at a local club, Penketh United, and Mike Glennie, a Manchester United scout, came to watch me. He spoke to my grandad and offered me trials, but there was also interest from Liverpool, and I had to pick - I was only young, but obviously my heart was with United at the time.

I always said if I didn't focus on basketball, then it would have been football. I was pretty good and was asked to go to England trials.

I was released by Chelsea at 14 years old. I remember it, a Tuesday night. On the Wednesday, I was training with Fulham, five minutes from my house, and then on the Thursday, I was training with West Ham. After one session at both clubs, they both wanted me.

Arsenal could have happened, as everybody knows, but I would not do a trial. Who do you think regrets that more - Arsene Wenger or Zlatan?

I was quite small as a lad compared to everyone else so I didn't stand a chance at Southampton. They told me one day that they weren't interested so I moved on. I just went away and enjoyed my football.

My PE teacher used to scout for Sporting and, when I was nine, he recommended me for a trial. From there, I just went up through the age groups and was always kept on while others were dropping out.

I got scouted at six by Everton. My parents said it was maybe a bit too young. A year later, I went down to trials at Everton and have been there ever since.

I was 14 when I arrived at Real Sociedad. No team wanted me in France. I trialled for around eight clubs, and then Real came.

I was very into football in my early teens and spent six months with Aston Villa, but I never really got further than having trials. I'm also into ice hockey.