Shayne Lavery, a striker for Blackpool, regrets not taking advantage of more of the possibilities presented to him when he was a young player at Everton.
The international for Northern Ireland worked at the Finch Farm academy for a while. Lavery claims that even though he had to leave his home to join the Blues, the experience didn’t bother him. It all happened so quickly that he claimed he didn’t give it any thought at the time.
“I adjusted to the change with ease, but being away from home got difficult when I started having some injury issues. I enjoyed my time at Everton since there were some excellent guys there. The facilities at Finch Farm were incredible; I couldn’t have wished for a better setting to study my trade. It was a significant change moving there.
“I wish I had done more off the field, whether it was with my diet or by working out more in the gym. “The facilities were there, but it’s difficult to see that when you’re growing up. “I do wish I had worked harder to assist myself strive to get there. Being so far away from the first team while feeling so close to it makes it difficult for the U23s.
Everyone is friends, but the setting is harsh; you need to take care of yourself a little. Instead of spending so much time with the U23s, I wish I had tried to go out on loan when I was a little younger.
Lavery enjoyed a European away day while playing for the Toffees after being selected for the matchday squad for a match against Apollon Limassol in Cyprus. It was fantastic since so many members of the first team were still playing, he continued.
“I recall the commotion in the area when it became clear that many lads would be called up. The manager was Sam Allardyce, but he was absent on the trip. You had to have played for the U18s for a specific amount of time in order to be chosen as a player. “I nearly succeeded. Certainly, the trip was enjoyable.
“Getting a chartered flight without having to wait or do anything else was fantastic. The airport was the biggest thing. “I’m back to using EasyJet to get home from places now.”
