1 Little Steps, Big Steps Part 1 - First Steps to Stardom
Lynn and Vince Carrick remember Michael’s first kick of a football
Lynn: From 18 months old he had a ball at his feet. That’s all he wanted to play with from a really young age. We’d go to toy shops and they’d have cars or whatever, but he’d just make straight for a ball.
All the neighbours would laugh. In the garden he’d have his slide and other toys, but all he wanted to do was play football. From an early age he’d sit and watch football with his dad. He’d climb on the settee and watch. When he got to four Vince took him to Wallsend boys club.
Michael: My earliest memory in terms of playing football is at the boys club when I was about 5 I think, 4 and a half maybe. It was a Saturday night and it was sort of an all- comers session really. Anyone could just turn up and have a kick around. You were put into teams and played, and I just remember Dad and Granddad taking me along.
I can actually remember the first time I went on the pitch and it seemed like such a big deal. I think I cried the first time I went on just because of the way it was set up; because there was a little balcony and then stairs going down it seemed a bit like an arena, everyone watching, it was a bit intimidating at first.
But then Dad took us on the pitch and that was it after that. But that’s my first memory of going there on a Saturday. Just having the buzz really of playing and thinking it was the best thing ever and getting in a team. It wasn’t about skills or knowing the game or anything it was just about running around and having fun.
Vince: He came with me at four. At four and a half he actually started playing 5-a-side in an U9 league. And they were getting beat 14-0 or whatever. But they persevered and he enjoyed it.
Lynn: He just loved taking part and playing the game. He wasn’t bothered about the score. It went above his head. He just enjoyed what he was doing and was so happy going along. He loved it. Putting the strip on and just going along and playing football. He just really, really enjoyed it. So it just carried on from there really.
They had toys to play with before they went to the 5-aside, but instead they’d always get something to make a goal. It was initially Michael with his little pals, which then continued when his brother Graeme came along. All they wanted to do was play in the garden.
As they were growing up that carried on with their friends, they all loved to play football. After school they’d go to the school fields and if they weren’t doing that they were at the boys’ club. All the friends would go to football together.
By this time Graeme was coming on the scene as well. He was like Michael, football daft. There was no pressure at all from us. It’s what they wanted to do and if it was making them happy we supported them. As a four year old, you just wanted your child to be happy. Graeme was Michael’s shadow. He just loved football.
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