QuoteLiam O'Brien, who went to Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School in Ruislip, turned down the opportunity of joining Premiership champions Manchester United, Arsenal and a whole host of other Premier League sides for a three-year deal with Portsmouth.
The goalkeeper completed a move from QPR to Pompey for an undisclosed fee. But the 6ft 2in shotstopper started life as a striker and only a stroke of luck handed him the chance to shine in goal when the team he was playing in a tournament for didn't have a goalkeeper so he had a try.
The teenager revealed the friendly atmosphere at Portsmouth encouraged him to choose them over their more illustrious rivals along with the prospect of training with England goalkeeper David James. "I went to Old Trafford and the Emirates but there was just something not quite right about them," he said. "When I went to Portsmouth it just felt great and (manager) Harry Redknapp seemed to know who I was."
I'm very excited to be going to a great club and I'm looking forward to working with one of the best goalkeepers."Portsmouth director of youth operations, Paul Hart, said: "We watched him an awful lot for QPR and were impressed. In the present climate there are few decent young English goalkeepers, but for a young boy Liam is mature and confident."
Originally Posted by tetsujin1979
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