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John Carver To Young NUFC Debutant ‘If You Don’t Head The Ball I’ll Kill You For It!’

10 years ago
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It has been an amazing three years for Newcastle youngster Alex Gilliead and I doubt he’ll ever forget the wise words from Alan Pardew’s assistant, as he stepped onto the pitch at Hillsborough.

John Carver encouraging Gilliead with the immortal words, “If you don’t head the ball I’ll kill you for it!”

The eighteen year old coming close to scoring after replacing Adam Armstrong with just five minutes left on the clock.

The striker only signed for Newcastle when he was 15, being spotted playing for Swalwell Juniors and since then has seen his United career progress plus played six times for the England Under 17s.

Great to see local lads coming through and especially when they are as grounded as Alex Gilliead appears to be.

Speaking to the club website Alex Gilliead said;

“It was unreal, I was told on Tuesday that I was in the squad.

“I got home and told my mamm she said, ‘keep yourself grounded, keep your head down and work hard if you get on.

“I just got told to go on for Arma (Adam Armstrong) and JC (John Carver) said, ‘make sure you work hard and make sure you head the ball if needed, if you don’t head the ball I’ll kill you for it!

“I cut inside and had a shot..I thought it was going in, I was going to set off running into the crowd but unfortunately it didn’t – but it was an unreal experience.

“My mam, my granddad, my grandma and my sister’s boyfriend were here…my grandma and granddad follow me everywhere and I couldn’t ask for more supportive people behind me.

“Tonight makes me proud and makes them proud, so it was just class to do it for them.”

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