Michael Carrick: A proud Geordie boy
HE turned up at West Ham United’s famous Academy as a raw Geordie lad from Burnside High School and he left as a player destined to go on to lift the Champions League.
Yes, Tynesider Michael Carrick has had a career to be proud of so far.
Aged 30 with the likes of Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes showing no signs of letting up at Old Trafford in the twilight of their careers, Carrick is still classed as wet behind the ears in comparison and doesn’t look like showing any signs of letting up for a while yet.
It’s easy to take Carrick’s achievements for granted but given that he began his football life in Wallsend Boys Club’s old wooden hut on Station Road and has starred on the biggest stages of all, his journey has been nothing short of sensational.
The midfielder’s achievement has left former Hammers Academy chief Tony Carr in total awe.
Carr recalled the day he first arrived at the Hammers’ Academy in 1997 and told the Chronicle: “It seems a long time ago now since he came down to West Ham as a 13-year-old from Newcastle.
“He’s gone on to get to the top of the game and he’s playing for a top club.
“He’s a fully-fledged England international and to reach 500 appearances in the top flight is a fantastic achievement for any player.
“We are very proud of him at West Ham.
“What we saw when he first came down was that he was a very technically gifted player. He had a great eye for a pass.
“He was already naturally quite two-footed, that was the first thing that struck us.
“We always thought he was suited to a club like West Ham, a club that like to get the ball down and play, he’d suit a West Ham team.
“He’s been marvellous and probably surpassed his own expectations.
“You never know in this game, you grab the opportunity when it comes and the kid is striving to get better.
“I know he’s a very grounded young man and very family orientated. “
Remember Michaels brother had a spell with us/trail – he was terrible!