Evening Telegraph (First Edition)
Ex-Gers, ’Pool and Scotland star Charlie snubbed by city clubs
THE city of Dundee gave Charlie Adam his love for football.
But neither of its clubs showed him any in return at the start of his career.
While being courted by the likes of Rangers, Celtic and Manchester City as a youngster, Adam – a lifelong Dundee supporter whose father, Charlie Snr, played for United – also tried his l uck with his home-town sides.
Astonishingly, neither snapped him up.
It was a snub that might have rocked less confident characters.
But Adam, with t he encouragement of his dad ringing in his ears, used it to fuel a career that has taken him to the top of the UK game – and left the Dundee teams wondering what might have been.
“I went a couple of times to Dundee United at Gussie Park as a kid, then went to Dundee a couple of times, too,” explained the former Liverpool, Stoke City and Scotland man, who is now plying his trade i n the Championship with Reading.
“But at that time, when I was growing up, it was all about the west coast lads coming through to Dundee. There were a lot of Glasgow kids playing for United in particular at that time.
“I basically got told I wasn’t good enough to play for either Dundee team.
“My dad and I decided then I’d go to other clubs. I went down to Man City and trained there as a youngster and I spent time with Celtic’s U/14s.
“Then Rangers came in and I had a decision to make.
“I loved going down to Man City. Their chief scout was called John Ferguson and he used to take us down there, myself and another Dundee boy, Jamie Winter (ex-Aberdeen).
“We used to go down in the school holidays and I loved it down there.
“But when it came to it I signed for Rangers. It wasn’t as far from home as Manchester and, obviously, they were a top, top side.”