Sky Sports activities pundit 'gutted' over son quitting Premier League academy regardless of 'flying' there
A number one Sky Sports activities pundit admitted how he was upset to study his son wished to give up taking part in soccer, regardless of showing to be excelling inside a Premier League membership's academy
Clinton Morrison has defined a "gutting" feeling he felt after studying his son now not wished to pursue changing into a footballer. The Sky Sports activities pundit and former Premier League striker loved an illustrious taking part in profession of his personal with the likes of Crystal Palace and Birmingham earlier than transferring into broadcasting.
Whereas he felt as if his son, Shay, would comply with in his footsteps, given he was excelling with Nottingham Forest in his teenage years, it evidently wasn't meant to be.
The 46-year-old, who was capped by the Republic of Eire 36 occasions, advised Mirror Soccer by way of Freebets earlier this yr: "He was within the academy. It’s gutting, to be honest. He was flying at Nottingham Forest. Then someday he got here residence at 14 or 15 and stated, ‘Dad, I don’t get pleasure from soccer.'
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"You possibly can’t be a pushy guardian and say, ‘I need you to be a footballer.' It’s not in him to be a footballer, he doesn’t get pleasure from it. He in all probability went as a result of he was younger and he in all probability thought that’s what I wished him to do. However once you get to that age, it’s form of tough."
Quick ahead to the fashionable day, and Shay has since gone on to review at college. However Morrison nonetheless has excessive hopes his different son, Kian, could make it to the skilled stage of soccer. He defined: "My youngest, Kian, is sweet although, he’s bought an excellent probability of being knowledgeable.
"He’s not at a membership in the meanwhile as a result of he needs to go and revel in himself and play along with his mates. However he’s bought probability. However yeah, my oldest, Shay, he determined it wasn’t for him.
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"He’s now at uni and he’s doing properly. You’ve got to be a father, you may’t be pushy. Shay performed as a striker, Kian performs as a centre-half.
"I’d say my youngest is within the mould of John Stones. If he can have half the profession that John Stones had, I’ll take that. He doesn’t prefer to kick it, he simply likes to play out from the again and defend. So we’ve bought an opportunity right here."
After having fun with stints with the likes of Coventry Metropolis, Sheffield Wednesday and Exeter, Morrison hung up his boots in 2017 earlier than dipping his toes into the world of teaching with Mickleover Sports activities.
Nonetheless, since September 2020, he has labored as a pundit for Sky Sports activities on their revamped Soccer Saturday present, whereas additionally offering matchday commentary for BBC Radio 5 Dwell.
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