James McCarthy opened up about the crushing blow so early on in his career, being rejected by his bhoyhood heroes and despite the set back making it to the big time with Everton.
James was trialled at the age of 13 with Celtic’s youth system but was told he hadn’t made the cut. He then when back to playing for his local team in Castlemilk before Hamilton came calling.
James spoke fondly of Celtic
“Growing up I got the chance to watch Celtic training a few times and I’d get my dad to take me to Parkhead as much as he could. Henrik Larsson was my hero and I used to like Chris Sutton as well. To get to meet them was brilliant. As a kid I wanted to be like them and although it was a long way off it was my dream. I didn’t want to do anything else.
I always wanted to play for Celtic and it would have been brilliant but it meant I went to Hamilton and got my chance early doors, then moved down South and got a chance at Wigan, so it worked out OK,” he says.
“A lot of good kids go to Celtic at that age but just can’t make it into the first team. As it was I got a lot of game time under my belt and it led to talk of me moving to Liverpool and Reading.”
“I went back to the boys club and then on to Hamilton. My family encouraged me.
“If one club doesn’t want you then you go to another club and just try and do as well as you can.”
He got his chance early on with the Accies and has never looked back. Wigan came calling eventually where he would impress to the extent Everton signed him for over £13 million last summer.
He’s now looking forward to the new campaign at Goodison Park where they look to improve upon their great season last term.
Not bad at all.
Interview from Liverpool Echo
