Blue Boys: George Green steps up age group to play for Everton U-18s

Oct 27 2011 by Greg O'Keeffe, Liverpool Echo

ACADEMY new-boy George Green is already making a good impression on coaches after the 15-year-old shone in a friendly for Everton’s U-18 side.

Green, who was signed from Bradford City last month in a £175,000 deal, scored shortly after arriving on his debut for the U-16s in a derby victory over Liverpool, and has impressed staff at Finch Farm with his enthusiasm and attitude.

The teenager was hot property before opting to sign for Everton and had been courted by Tottenham Hotspur along with Bayern Munich, Liverpool, and Southampton.

But the Blues won the race for his signature after inviting him to Goodison Park to watch the Merseyside derby.

His former mentor at Bradford, Archie Christie, felt David Moyes was the right man to nurture his protegee, and was impressed by Everton’s nationally renowned academy.

A measure of Green’s potential was that coach Kevin Sheedy thought him able to play in the friendly against Wrexham’s reserve side at the age of 15.

The North Wales outfit’s second string featured seasoned professionals like Glenn Little and Chris Westwood, and Green produced an eye-catching performance playing in the hole behind two strikers.

“That role seems to suit George and he got plenty of the ball and had a productive game,” said Sheedy.

“He is settling in very well considering he has been here no time at all really, and he is full of confidence and is clearly a young boy who loves his football.

“We will still play him for the U16s but every now and then he’ll play for the 18s as well.”