JUGGLING JACK THE LAD WAS A BIG HIT AGED FIVE
IMAGING
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LIKE most of the nation, Richard by JAMES NURSEY
Sweeney was on the edge of his As a kid he was far better than sofa when England took on anything we had seen before.
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nemesis Germany. “I remember his last game for
But those shredded nerves us, the match was level and the turned to optimism and excitment keeper rolled the ball out to him when Gareth Southgate prepared and he dribbled around the whole to send on Jack Grealish as a of their team and smashed it in substitute. the back of the net.
Sweeney has known Grealish “My main recollection is, I was for 20 years since he coached worried for the first three or four Highgate United under-6s in games because he was so young. Birmingham’s Kings Heath Park. “However once he sorted out
He had his reservations when a what he had to do, he went from small Grealish was brought along struggling a little bit to being the at the age of five to play with his best player. older cousin, wearing shin pads “He played with the age group that covered his knees. above but was totally not out of
But those fears evaporated place at all. When he did play in when the future England star his age group, everything was too displayed his skills by instantly easy for him. performing keepie-uppies. “Playing in the year above, he
Now England are turning to the had to look after himself a little Aston Villa captain to provide bit more. inspiration at Euro 2020. “He worked out for himself
After being introduced against what he had to do to play at the the Germans at 0-0, Grealish was higher level. He understands heavily involved in the move for football.” the opener before teeing up Harry Sweeney went on to coach Kane with an inch-perfect cross. Grealish for three years before his He also set up Raheem Sterling’s boyhood club Villa came calling. goal against the Czech Republic, Sweeney recalls most of the big sparking calls for him to start Midlands clubs wanted him. tomorrow against Ukraine. “Jim Thomas, the legendary
Sweeney said: “The Germany Villa scout, spotted him and the game was definitely nervewracking rest is history. Birmingham were but I felt after him too and West Brom but better when Jack they weren’t going to get him finally because he was a diehard Villa came fan, as were his family.”
on.