Joining The Millwall Community Trust Post-16 Academy students this week was Millwall right-back Danny McNamara, who discussed his pathway into professional football.
Millwall Community Trust offer 16-18-year-old football players the opportunity to pursue a two-year football and education scholarship. McNamara was in the Q&A hot seat on Monday, following on from Billy Mitchell's session last week.
Danny opened up about being released from a professional club as a youngster, and dropping back into non-league football to rekindle his love for the game.
“When I was playing games, I felt like I could make the step up. That gave me the mentality to think positively. I had friends in the game who were playing professionally and that motivated me to do it.”
McNamara went on to be picked up by Millwall and has made 17 Chamionship appearances this campaign, but the defender has had to work his way up into the first team. Loans at the likes of Welling, Newport County & St Johnstone have allowed Danny to develop and constantly improve through out his career.
“Without my loan moves I likely wouldn’t be where I am now. The reason I went out on loan was to man up, get stronger and experience the difference between winning and losing.
“I definitely feel like that helped me mature as a player and has helped me get to where I am now. Every loan, I went a league higher. That showed my development."
Benik Afobe is scehduled to join the students in next week's session.
Find out more about the MCT Football Academy, here.
