Manchester United's rising star Danny Welbeck returns to his old school-field of dreams to inspire next generation
Danny Welbeck was back on his old school-field of dreams this week, an artificial strip of green shoehorned into Manchester city centre.
Academically gifted, Welbeck acquired 12 GCSEs and higher education beckoned. “What would I have studied at university?” Welbeck mused. “Football!”
It has always been football for the son of Victor and Elizabeth Welbeck, two Ghanaian social workers who settled in Longsight. Danny joined Manchester United’s academy at eight and was soon gracing England age-group sides while shining at Trinity Church of England High School in Hulme.
Welbeck smiled at the memory of the annual classroom career debate.
“The teacher would say: ‘Not everybody makes it as a footballer, so what do you want to be?’ I’d say: ‘A footballer’. The teacher would say: ‘But not everybody makes it. So what do you want to be?’ I’d say: ‘A footballer.’ Every year that happened! Nothing was going to get in the way of me being a footballer.”
Returning to Trinity on Thursday, Welbeck watched Manchester United’s Foundation coaches lay on a lively training session for pupils all wearing new strip donated by the Premier League Players’ Kit Scheme.
Trinity has produced athletes and X-Factor contestants but the sight of Welbeck with a new kit-bag sparked complete hysteria. Pupils tore down corridors, sprinting outside to scream his name and admire his sleek car. One of their own was living the dream. “I don’t think of myself as a big star. I’m really lucky that my occupation is something I love. The young kids here shouldn’t see me as a million miles away. They can go on to do the same thing if they have the right attitude. I had the right attitude to make it as a footballer.”
His old PE teacher, Darren Westmoreland, nodded. “I saw Danny’s natural talent the moment he arrived here,’’ said Westmoreland. “His balance, vision and skill were leaps and bounds above other students. The biggest thing that stood out was his attitude, his willingness to listen and learn, his hard work and determination. Danny was always very humble, never gloated about what he was doing with United and England. He was always keen to represent school. No ego. Always polite.’’
Such principles were drilled into him by his parents. “They taught me to respect my elders, to respect everyone,’’ Welbeck said. “They taught me to do everything to the best of my ability, whether schoolwork or football and see how far I can get in life. Mum and dad worked so hard to help me and my brothers grow up as good people. They were both social workers, working with kids with learning disabilities. They are just great people. It means so much to me to make them proud."
Welbeck’s maturing as man and front man was also shaped by United’s academy. “They produce very respectful young men. All the players who have come through the academy, you don’t see any big-headed players.’’ Senior players such as Ryan Giggs and Gary Neville helped. “They were top class when I was coming through, always there to give invaluable advice, let you know to keep your feet on the floor.
“My role model has been Ryan Giggs ever since I was a young kid. I love the way he plays. I was eight when he scored that goal against Arsenal [in the 1999 FA Cup semi-final]. I just thought ‘Wow! I want to be Ryan Giggs.’ When I first trained with him, I was in disbelief. Then I got the chance to play with him. There’s nothing better than playing alongside your role models.
“Ryan Giggs has that great desire. He still wants to win every single training match. Even if it’s possession, he wants his team to have the ball most. To see that is really encouraging for the young players to know how much it still means to them. Every United player just wants to get better and better. Wazza [Wayne Rooney] has a great desire.
“It’s infectious. I see him giving his all and it makes me want to give my all as well. He’s a wonderful talent. I’m training and playing with world-class players.”
The tone is set by Sir Alex Ferguson. “The manager has still got this hunger to carry on winning, not just trophies, but every single game. The manager has just passed his 25th anniversary as manager of Manchester United. That’s an incredible achievement. When he speaks to me it’s so motivational that I just want to get out there and play.’’
Ferguson believes in Welbeck, even fielding the 20 year-old on his own up front at Anfield. “Being a lone striker is tough, but I do my best for the team. The manager knows what he’s doing. Whoever he picks, he’s going for three points. The manager never settles for anything less. It’s important to be versatile. Growing up through the Academy, I was taught to play left wing, upf ront, behind the striker or on the right wing.” His favourite role? “I’d like to play up front preferably with a strike partner.”
His education continues at Carrington. “Michael Owen’s always helpful. I can’t stop learning off him. I watch how he hangs on the shoulder of the last defender. I watch his movement in behind defenders. He’s a great striker. I do remember his goal against Argentina at France 98. I was sitting in the living room with my whole family and saw him take that touch with the outside of his foot and just go! Just go! He shifted it past a couple of Argentina defenders and stuck it in the top corner and just wow!”
Welbeck is England’s striking future now, part of a new generation being unleashed by Fabio Capello. “It’s exciting and encouraging to know that if you’re doing well with your club, the manager has you in his thoughts to pick for the full England side. A few of us went to the Under-21 Championships last summer, we all know each other’s games and hopefully we can take that it into the Euros. Phil Jones is fearless. He’s great to play with because he’s got the drive and determination to win. He’s like Wazza.
“Daniel [Sturridge] has great feet. He can beat players, he’s very sharp in and around the box, always looking to create and score. He’s a danger to any team he comes up again. Jack Rodwell’s comfortable on the ball, on either foot. He’ll keep possession, drive forward and he can also do the defensive side as well.
“Kyle Walker is quick. When we were little, I was at United and he was at Sheffield United. One year he was this small scrawny kid and the next year we played he’d developed so much. He’d turned into Terminator. All of a sudden so strong and fast. He got stronger and quicker each year and has developed into a top-class right-back.”
Welbeck and England’s new breed bring a smile to the face of Gordon Taylor, who had popped out from the Professional Footballers’ Association’s Manchester office to watch events at Trinity. “It’s pleasing to see Capello giving youngsters a chance,’’ said Taylor.
“Danny’s such a top-quality character. You can see he’s been well brought up by his family and United. For these young lads to see the link between them and United and England with Danny has raised the morale of the school.’’ And university? “It would have been natural for me – my brothers went.” The United fan who became a United striker smiled. “One brother went to Leeds and one to Liverpool – so I didn’t go and visit them often.’’
Manchester United's rising star Danny Welbeck returns to his old school-field of dreams to inspire next generation - Telegraph
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