Andy Carroll says football isn't about money, he just loves playing and recalls days as a boyhood Newcastle fan

  • West Ham striker Andy Carroll says that he didn't become a professional footballer for the money or media hype
  • The 26-year-old insists that it all comes down to his love for the sport
  • Carroll recalls his days as a boyhood Newcastle fan with a season ticket at St James' Park, looking up to Alan Shearer 

By Rohan Banerjee For Mailonline

Published: 17:46 EST, 13 July 2015 | Updated: 19:53 EST, 13 July 2015

West Ham striker Andy Carroll insists that he didn't pursue professional football for the handsome pay-packet, but simply because of his genuine love for the game. 

The 26-year-old said during an interview with Forever Sports, 'I've been playing football all my life and I wasn't getting paid for it when I was younger. I kicked a ball round the streets with no leather patches on. For me to play in the Premier League, it's not for the money it's because I love it.

He added, 'I don't find it's about the money or the media or anything. It's all about what you love doing and football is what I love doing.' 

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Andy Carroll insists that he did not get into professional football for the money or media hype

Andy Carroll insists that he did not get into professional football for the money or media hype

The West Ham striker says that he plays football because it is genuinely what he loves doing

The West Ham striker says that he plays football because it is genuinely what he loves doing

Carroll began his career at boyhood club Newcastle, rising through their academy and into the first-team

Carroll began his career at boyhood club Newcastle, rising through their academy and into the first-team

Carroll remembers having a season ticket at St James' Park and watching former Toon hero Alan Shearer

Carroll remembers having a season ticket at St James' Park and watching former Toon hero Alan Shearer

Boyhood Newcastle fan Carroll, who was born in Gateshead, grew up with a season ticket at St James' Park and recalled watching a certain Alan Shearer in his pomp, scoring for fun in the Gallowgate end. 

'I was 10 rows from the sideline and a few along the dugout. It was pretty close and Shearer was top dog.

'His goal against Aston Villa, the volley, was incredible. Some of his finishing, and his headers were just quality. It's what I looked up to.' 

Carroll joined Newcastle as a trainee in 2005 and made his first-team debut for them the following season, aged 17 years and 300 days in the UEFA Cup tie against Palermo. 

He played a bit-part role for the Magpies to begin with and was sent out on loan to Preston in the 2007-08 campaign to gain experience. 

However, following the Toon's relegation to the Championship in 2009 and the exits of several first-team strikers including Michael Owen, Obafemi Martins and Mark Viduka, Carroll was called upon to make the step up.

He spearheaded Newcastle's promotion charge at the first attempt and got off to a promising start in their first season back in the top flight, netting 11 goals 19 league games. 

Carroll's big-money move to Liverpool in 2011 never really worked out for him and he was sold to West Ham

Carroll's big-money move to Liverpool in 2011 never really worked out for him and he was sold to West Ham

Off the back of this fine form, he was sold to Liverpool for £35million in January 2011, at the time the highest transfer fee ever paid for an English player. 

But Carroll struggled to hit the same heights for the Reds as he did on Tyneside, while also suffering a succession of injuries. 

He was loaned to West Ham during the 2012–13 season and after performing well for them, they made the deal permanent for £15m that summer. Alas, the injuries persisted and the forward once tipped to break Shearer's scoring record has seen his game-time severely limited over the past three years.  

Carroll has impressed in flashes at West Ham, but continues to be blighted by injuries

Carroll has impressed in flashes at West Ham, but continues to be blighted by injuries

Carroll's latest injury, ligament damage to his knee, has kept him out of action since February, yet he remains hopeful of an England recall. 

He said, '100% I need to get back in the England squad. And I think I can, you know. I've been really unlucky with injuries. I've got nine caps but I think it should be a lot more'  

Despite his injury record, Carroll remains hopeful of earning a recall to the England team

Despite his injury record, Carroll remains hopeful of earning a recall to the England team

 

Read the full interview in the August issue of Forever Sports, available for £2 from all good newsagents and Sports Direct stores. 

 

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