How Che Adams was denied Leicester City dream

[davieG]

Leicester City latest - Southampton summer signing Che Adams revealed he had multiple trials with the Foxes, who he goes up against tonight.

 

By

Jordan Blackwell

15:29, 25 OCT 2019

SPORT

 

Playing for Leicester City was Che Adams’ dream but the Southampton striker has revealed he was rejected by the club “four or five times”.

Adams, 23, grew up in Thurnby Lodge and had aspirations of turning pro at his hometown club.

But the forward, who joined the Saints in a £15m summer move from Birmingham, said he was turned down multiple times after trials with City, and ended up in Coventry’s academy.

“The first time would have been before Coventry, so under-8s, and it was until under-16s – that would have been my last go,” Adams told the Guardian. “Leicester was the closest team to us so it was always a dream to play for them.”

 

Adams was released by Coventry as a teenager and he had to work his way up the ranks, starting with Oadby Town before making his name at Ilkeston.

“I can remember the day they released me at Coventry – it leaves a mark, definitely – although me and the family knew it was coming,” Adams said.

“You get a feel for when someone doesn’t want you, when you are kind of getting pushed away. It was just disappointment; towards myself and the people that helped me get there.

“But it either pushes you on or knocks you back. At that age, it’s make or break. You either go down the education route or you keep working hard at your football. That’s what I did.

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“I didn’t really get on with the academy life and it was the right decision for me to go another way.

“(In non-League) it’s just a question of how hard you’re going to get kicked. You definitely get kicked harder in non‑League because the referee is all the way in the other penalty box or on the other side of the pitch.

“Of course it’s frustrating but I was a little boy and I couldn’t really say anything to the older men, could I? It’s a little kid running around you and you just want to kick him as hard as you can to stop him from doing that.”

Adams eventually made the leap to the Football League with Sheffield United and after 22 goals in the Championship for Birmingham last season, he is now taking on in the midst of his first Premier League campaign.

while growing up in Thurnby Lodge.

“I thought it was all right, to be honest,” Adams said of his childhood in Leicester.

“Everyone really knew each other, everyone knew what everyone did and so everyone’s got respect. It’s still like that now. I think everyone who comes up – they say they had a hard life but I think it’s just normal.”

“Everyone had respect for me, they knew what I wanted to do, so I never really got caught up in it or they never involved me in anything like that. I’ve seen people make the wrong choices, I’ve seen it everywhere and it is scary but they made the choices.”

 

https://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/che-adams-southampton-leicester-city-3110707

[Heathrow fox]

Had no idea he was from Thurnby Lodge

[Brainy]

Hat-trick incoming

[Spudulike]

Good luck to the lad but not tonight please 

 

#OneOfOurOwn

[dmayne7]

Think it will click for him at some point. Shame we didn't get him. As many people said, would be an excellent understudy for Vards given he has a similar game.

[StanSP]

Definitely bagging a goal tonight. 

#EOLC

[HybridFox]

There's still time when you think of all the journeymen we've signed over the years. The dream is not over!

[Sir Shep]

Just hope we don’t make him look like Messi tonight then!