Morgan Gibbs-White was so determined to become a footballer he’d infuriate his teachers by kicking a ball in the school corridors between lessons.
It inevitably led to a few detentions for the Swansea City loan star from Wolves who marked his league debut with the winner at Preston on the opening day of the season.
But it was part of Plan A for the 20-year-old who looks set to make a huge impact for Steve Cooper’s side this season.
“I used to take a football to school every day, and I used to get detention because I couldn’t leave the ball alone,” admitted Gibbs-White, who attended Sir Graham Balfour School in Stafford before moving on to Thomas Telford School where he was coached by ex-Swans defender Des Lyttle.
“I’d just be kicking it up the corridors to my lessons and into the classrooms.
“The teachers used to tell me I had to get my head down and study and get my grades, but I would always tell them I wanted to be a football player. It was always Plan A.”
Gibbs-White, speaking to swanseacity.com, added: “I’ve been back to the school since, just after I had got into the first team at Wolves.
“I went back with my sister when she had her GCSE results, and I told one of the teachers how my kicking the ball around the corridors had paid off. She just shook her head!”
Signed to the Wolves academy sat age eight, he made his first-team debut at 16 and has racked up plenty of European and league experience he hopes will benefit the Swans.
“I want to be successful at Swansea, I already have a really good feeling about the club,” added Gibbs-White, who won the World Cup with the England Under-17s side coached by Cooper.
“I know where this club belongs, and I want to do my best to try and get the Swans back there.”
“But I have to stay hungry and always want more. I want more trophies, to be in a better position in life, and my family help keep me grounded and hungry.”
Gibbs-White admits father Kirk and mum Leanne have been key figures in his development – and played an unexpected part in him getting his chance with Wolves.
He added: “I was playing in a tournament in Penkridge, near our home. I didn’t know anything about any scouts being there and it was just a normal Sunday game for me,.
“I think I scored four or five goals, but the scouts were originally watching another game, but my mother and father were cheering me on so much that it attracted one of the scouts to see what was happening.
“He only saw the last five or 10 minutes, but he went up to my parents after the game and said; ‘please get this kid down to us whenever you can’.
“I went and had a trial – wearing my blue Manchester United shirt with Ronaldo on the back – and I got signed on the back of that and got down to work from there.
“They’ve always been there. I am sure my father has spent thousands of pounds on petrol over the years, but it has been worth it. He says he does not regret a moment of it, and I would not be in this situation at all without him.
“I always loved football. My dad was a very good player, he was a very quick striker.
“He was a good finisher, but I think some people can be led astray and he made sure I wasn’t when I started playing.
“I am sure he would have been good enough to be a professional but he made sure I learned from his own experiences.
“I felt like he could have made it with the right people around him, and I think that’s why he has always been there for me to make sure I am doing the right things and make sure I got as far as I could.
“Like I say, if it wasn’t for him, I would not be sat here now.”
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