The Ralph Lavery Story

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So my good season is brought down a bit as the team does not perform well this season. We all thought that promotion was an achievable goal at the start of the season, however we end up at the opposite end of the scale fighting relegation and only a strong finish to the season sees us eventually out of the relegation zone and into 11th. Hoping for a much better showing personally and from the team next season.
 
So in the close season I’m selected for the u20s squad that are taking part in an invitational tournament in France. I’m really looking forward to this as it will be the first time I have left the country and my first time on a plane, sure beats a caravan in Portrush for the week!

 
Anyway the tournament is a disappointment with us losing all 3 matches and finishing bottom of the group. Whilst I played in 2 games with 6.1 and 6.5 ratings I hardly set the world alight. I doubt I will have Europes elite knocking on my door based on those performances. Still I’m only 14 and some of the guys I was playing against were huge. Still I loved the whole experience and working with players from Man Utd etc. can only be good for me.

 
Start of season 2 stats. Need to work hard this season and improve these and justify my massive £1 per week wage.
 
So with the transfer window now shut until next year it is time to knuckle down and ensure a better season both personally and for Carrick. I’ve been promoted to the first team which I still can’t believe as I’m only 14 and had a reasonable start to this campaign, starting all 3 league games and scoring a goal. The team has also started much better and we currently lie 4th​, but we will need to improve further if we want the only automatic promotion place as the one play off place against the 2nd​ bottom Premier League side a lottery.

 
So the first half of the season flew by, I’ve become a first team regular starting 14 of the clubs 18 league games scoring 8, which matches last years total already. With a few cup games and International u19s I’ve played plenty of football not to mention MoM performances. It is not just me that is having a good season the team currently sit top of the table and looking good for promotion.
 
Having said all this I don’t feel that technically I’m making great strides, perhaps if we get promoted the club can improve the coaching and training facilities, or of course maybe a bigger club will pick me up. I do however manage my first international goal against Luxemburg, how this is the highlight of things internationally as neither I nor the team perform particularly well, even if we aren’t expected to beat Italy and Germany we should at least be putting a shift in.

 
The highlight of my international career. Hopefully many more to come.
 
So the second season draws to a close and what a year. I have managed to make it into the first team and again kept myself in the reckoning for the Northern Ireland u19s. However the big news is that I have collected my first league winners’ medal as we have had a much better season and won the league. Mum has even bought a new display cabinet for my medal; looks a little lonely on its own so may need a few more to help fill it.

 
My end of year stats. Not too bad though I'd like to be getting a few more goals.
 
So next season we will be in the premier league amongst the big boys and if I can keep my form as it was last year then this could be a really big season for me. The one thing that could be an issue is the pressure mum is putting on me. I have my GCSE’s this year and mum is giving it the old “what happens if you get injured? You need good qualifications to fall back on.” Really hope that we have secured our survival before June as a relegation battle and loads of exams is not what I need.
 
Pre-season brings a massive surprise as I get given the captains armband. Granted it was a friendly, it was only for a half and we were playing a rotated team but for me it was still an honour to captain the club that you used to be a season ticket holder of, it also shows that I have definitely cemented my first team place.

 
Surely a big move can't be far away mate - good luck!!
 
So start of the new season and I can’t wait to get started. I’m really looking forward to playing against the Linfields and Glentorans of this league and testing myself against the best the Irish league has to offer. Just need to stay fit and try and push on. A good season for me could help keep the team up and maybe put me in the shop window for some bigger clubs
 
So the season starts much as we all anticipated and we are definitely going to be fighting for our lifes. Predicted to finish 11th​ which would mean a playoff against the runners up of the Championship. I finding life a bit more difficult in the Premier League and goals are hard to come by and I’ve only managed 2 when this happens.

 
Just what I wanted on the day of my 16th​ birthday a torn hamstring and 3 months on the side-lines. I’m trying to put a positive spin on this as at least this will give me the chance to concentrate on my coursework and exam revision which if nothing else will keep my mum off my back.

 
So having spent the next 3 months rehabbing and revising I’m at last fit again and make the squad. I’m just hoping that I have something to smile about on Valentines day as there were a great lack of cards this morning, I thought being a footballer would get me all the girls, apparently not.
So a goal on my return to 1st​ team action and what could be a vital point come the end of the season, as Warrenpoint currenty sit just above us in 10th​ and outside of the relegation picture.

 
I continue the rest of the season in a similar fashion scoring 3 more in our remaining 9 games. This is enough to catch the eye of the N. Ireland u21s manager and he calls me up for a couple of squads. Whilst I’m only a sub it’s another step up. Unfortunately my goal scoring form isn’t enough to save us from the relegation places and we finish 11th​, just as the bookies had predicted (they are never wrong!). This means a 2 leg playoff against the Championship runners up Donegal Celtic, who much like ourselves are a bit of a yo-yo club, heres hoping they are still on the downward motion.

 
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