Middlesbrough’s Riley McGree reveals pathway into football from Australian upbringing

The latest North East sport headlines, from Daniel Wales.

Transcript

00:00Middlesbrough's Riley McGree has spoken about his introductions to football in Australia

00:05and how he dabbled in other sports before finally finding his feet playing football

00:10before then coming to England.

00:12I think I started when I was probably four but I don't remember that long ago.

00:17I just remember going to games and my dad who knew nothing about football was always

00:22on the sidelines.

00:23He played Australian rules football but he was always on the sidelines screaming just

00:26for me to run and work hard and they're probably the things I remember and as I said before

00:31they're probably things that I definitely still hold with me today.

00:33And those other sports, did you have the chance to play them at all, did you dabble in them

00:37a little bit?

00:38I played a bit of cricket when I was younger to a decent level but I kind of come to a

00:42crossroads where I had to choose cricket or football and it was a bit of a no-brainer

00:46for me and I'm glad I chose the right one.

00:49You got your big break with Adelaide United didn't you?

00:51Can you just talk through your journey from there and how you got to where you are now?

00:56Yeah I think, so as I said before about, I was obviously doing furniture remover list

01:02out of a warehouse and then I got offered my professional contract and then that season

01:06I did a bit of training with the first team and they actually won the league that year.

01:10I might have played one game I think, I made my debut that year, played one game.

01:15And one of Sunderland's new signings Noah Siddiqui has spoken of his excitement at playing

01:20for the club in front of the supporters at the Stadium of Light when the season starts in August.

01:25Yeah, but I think I didn't play in the big stadium yet so I'm looking forward to it.

01:31But yeah, to see the fans in here, playing with the teammates, giving everything for the team

01:38is already a good feeling.

01:40And this week comes to an end in Portugal.

01:43How have you found it?

01:45Lots of hard work and lots of friendships made as well?

01:48Yeah, yeah, yeah.

01:49Lots of friends.

01:50You can see they're behind.

01:52But yeah, it was fine to have this camp.

01:56I get to know everybody a little bit better and yeah, to improve as well for myself.

02:02And I hope to see what the Premier League is about.

02:06Speaking of which, it's less than a month to go until the Premier League season starts.

02:10That must be really exciting prospects, right?

02:12Of course, of course.

02:13I look forward to playing the first game.