Aston Villa loanee on John McGinn phone call that helped calm nerves ahead of Falkirk move.
Ben Broggio has revealed how a phone call from Aston Villa captain John McGinn helped calm the nerves on his way to signing for Falkirk on loan.
The attacker, 19, has worked his through the Villians’ academy and has regularly trained with Unai Emery’s first-team squad throughout this season. He made his professional debut last term and has been a star performer in the UEFA Youth League and FA Youth Cup.
And highly-rated prospect is now making his first foray into men’s football with the Bairns in the Scottish Premiership after Scotland hero McGinn tipped off his big brother Stephen - who is part of Falkirk’s backroom staff - that Broggio was available for his first loan away from his hometown heroes.
The move came about swiftly last weekend, with the attacker joining Falkirk on deadline day, and he explained how the move came about, and the phone call from McGinn that made all the difference.
John McGinn is new Falkirk loan star’s idol
“I spoke to Ginny at Villa and he said that it would be a great opportunity for me,” Broggio said. “I was at a spa with my girlfriend and he text me just mentioning Falkirk. He said that the team play fantastic football and the people here have massive ambition. Having that trust and opinion from the skipper was all I needed to hear. He thought that it would be better for me to come here than go to say a League One or League Two club. He told me about the club winning back-to-back promotions and that they were flying. The way Falkirk play is suited to how I play and I can see that already. Ginny made that so clear that they play from the back. I know that he would look out for me. He is big voice at Villa and when you train with the first team he involves you in the jokes and banter and makes you feel welcome. He is a proper role model. I’m a Villa fan so to be recommended by the club captain means so much. He believes in my ability.
“When I was on the way up to Falkirk with my mum Penny - he gave us a call and was brilliant, reassuring her and me too. I’ve been at Villa since I was nine and I haven’t been away from home. He told my mum that I would be well looked after here! He even offered that his own parents were only 45 minutes away and would look after me if needed. Monday morning I was training with Falkirk after first hearing about Falkirk on Saturday night! It was a quick turnaround.”
Broggio was quickly given a taste of top-flight football - making his debut off the bench for the Bairns on Wednesday night away to Livingston. The winger made a strong impression, with manager McGlynn praising the youngster’s performance after the 2-1 win.
Ahead of Sunday’s Scottish Gas Scottish Cup fifth round trip to Stenhousemuir, Broggio explained what is he is hoping to get out of the move. He’s hoping that he will earn his first Falkirk start in front of the BBC Scotland cameras at a sold-out Ochilview Park.
He added: “It was a great experience. I was delighted to play my first game for Falkirk. The goal for me is to play as many games as possible and get a taste of men’s football. I need to learn the things that you can’t playing academy football. The speed of play is so much quicker and I got that within the 25 minutes I played the other night. You have to do so much more out of possession. It is a massive step up but I will get used to it quickly. I am creative player and when I get the ball at my feet, anything can happen. I’d love to get my first start and kick on from there. I look up to players like Morgan Rogers at Villa who is a similar player to me in terms of position and attributes. I like playing as a No 10 or coming off the left and drifting inside.”
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