Through Thick and Thin
A Terrier Like Story
July 08
Introduction:
It was hard growing up in the small town of Limavady, Northern Ireland especially when aspiring to be a professional footballer. I started off my football career at my hometown football club, Limavady Youths, a small club on the outskirts of Londonderry. Through hard work and grafting through thick and thin, I worked my way up the ranks to Under 18’s.
Were it all began
It was a Tuesday evening, the floodlights gleamed over the pitch, as with every training session I couldn’t wait to get started, however, on this night, it was the Assistant Manager taking the session, the “gaffer” was somewhat reserved during this training session, most of the time was spent on the phone. After training, it was all explained, he sat us down and explained; “ Now lads, as you may have noticed I wasn’t very much involved in tonight’s training, this was because I was on the phone to the Co. Londonderry Milk cup manager.” Just by looking around the dressing room you could see the delight on the faces of youngsters who believed this was their time to shine. He then began to read out names of the selected few to go to a trial in a few days time, this would determine if my future were to begin or fall at the first hurdle.
Name after name was read out, the first, second, third, fifth, sixth, and then “Steven McKergan” my name was read out, I could hardly hide my delight, this was it, in one weeks time I would stand there with approximately fifty to sixty people hoping that I would be selected to play in the tournament.
It was a Saturday night, the evening before my trial, I was so excited, I had my boots at the ready, along with my favourite Manchester United strip. I lay there in bed thinking of the future and what I may hold if I play well during the trial and then in the tournament to follow, the cars, the house, the money, but most of all the delight at playing in front of a packed out Old Trafford.
The next morning came faster than I ever could have imagined, I sprinted down the stairs, got breakfast as fast as I could, and waited for my lift to Londonderry where the trial was placed. I sat there on the sofa with a grin from cheek-to-cheek.
My father followed me into the living room, with a somewhat arrogant walk, and in a demeaning tone of a voice said:
Dad: “ What are you so happy about?”
Me: “I’m going to play football for Manchester United one day Dad”
Dad: “ Wait, wait. Wait, your going to play for Manchester United, who told you this?” in a sarcastic tone of voice
Me: ”I did, and Mum agrees”
Dad: “We’ll see”
He quickly rose off his seat and stormed to the kitchen where Mum was trying to have a quiet breakfast, however, I suspected that wasn’t going to last long, it was the only thing they ever done. Dad stormed through the kitchen door and began to roar down Mum’s throat. I caught the tail end of the conversation and it was the words I did not want to hear before the most important trial I have ever went to:
“Do you really think that he is capable of going to this trial and doing well, get a grip woman, he will go to this trial and do the same as he always does, play terrible, he’ll come home and expect a shoulder to cry on, well it’s not happening this time”
With that, there was beep of a horn and I was off to my trial, still with the words of my so-called Father echoing through my head. I plugged in my iPod secretly wishing that it would drown out the words my Dad had said to my Mother, but it wasn’t happening. I flicked through the movies on my iPod and came across Coach Carter, playing through it came to a point where I needed motivation as we were nearly there, and my prayers were answered:
Timo Cruz:
Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.
Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.
It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us.
Your playing small does not serve the world.
There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you.
We are all meant to shine as children do.
It's not just in some of us; it is in everyone.
And as we let our own lights shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.
As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.
With those words ringing throughout my ears, I went ahead with my trial, words from my Father evaporated and motivating words of one Timo Cruz firmly placed inside my head. I played my heart out on that pitch, scoring two and assisting another, it may even have been the best game I have played in my entire life on a football pitch and it didn’t go unnoticed.
To be continued…
"Comments, feedback and constructive criticism all welcome
Length of posts will be shortened hopefully,
always get carried away when writing."
Last edited:
