Former Sunderland youngster Tommy Lavery became Lee Cattermole’s first signing as Gateshead manager last month.
Tommy Lavery has paid an emotional tribute to Sunderland’s academy set-up as he embarks on his senior career with National League neighbours Gateshead.
The 20-year-old has spent the last 11 years at the Academy of Light and became a regular at Under-18s and Under-21s level in recent seasons as well as earning senior experience with loan spells at Northern Irish club Cliftonville and the Heed’s National League rivals FC Halifax Town. However, with his contract coming to an end this summer, Lavery and the Black Cats accepted it was time for the defender to move on and forge a career in the senior game - and that decision led to him becoming Lee Cattermole’s first signing following his appointment at the International Stadium last month.
Tom Lavery has joined Gateshead after leaving Sunderland.placeholder image
Tom Lavery has joined Gateshead after leaving Sunderland. | Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images.
Lavery believes both he and several other Black Cats prospects that were released this summer have been given a solid grounding in the game during their time at the Academy of Light and paid tribute to former Under-21s coach Graeme Murty after his departure was confirmed in recent days.
He told The Echo: “I genuinely couldn’t ask for more from Sunderland. From the age of nine, they have looked after me in every single way and when Graeme Murty came in with the Under-21s, everything took off. He was a guy I couldn’t have asked for more from him. When I signed for Gateshead, he text me and wished me good luck. He’s a man that helped me throughout my football journey so far and he has given me the base to build on. There are a lot of guys at Sunderland that want to push on and a lot that have been released - but all of them will be ready for the first-team game because of the foundations that have been put in place by Sunderland.”
‘An absolute no-brainer’
Lee Cattermole has been named as manager of National League club Gateshead (photo Jack McGraghan)placeholder image
Lee Cattermole has been named as manager of National League club Gateshead (photo Jack McGraghan) | Jack McGraghan
Lavery’s early years within the Academy of Light coincided with his new manager captaining the Black Cats at senior level as they competed in the Premier League. The youngster has been impressed with what he has witnessed from Cattermole since returning to pre-season training last week and revealed talks with the former Sunderland midfielder meant his decision to join Gateshead had become a ‘no-brainer’.
“The gaffer has been brilliant, absolutely brilliant,” explained the young defender. “When I first went in to Sunderland, he was the main man, the main man in midfield, the captain, and everybody loves him and looked up to him. It will be a privilege to play under him and speaking to him ahead of the move just meant signing was an absolute no-brainer for me.”
Learning
Former Sunderland youngster Tommy Lavery has signed a two-year deal at National League neighbours Gateshead (photo Jack McGraghan)placeholder image
Former Sunderland youngster Tommy Lavery has signed a two-year deal at National League neighbours Gateshead (photo Jack McGraghan) | Jack McGraghan
Lavery made his first appearance for Gateshead in their opening pre-season friendly against Northern League Division One side Blyth Town and produced a solid display during the second-half after being introduced as a half-time substitute. Cattermole’s side strolled to a 6-0 win at Gateway Park with two goals from trialists, a brace from youngster Callum Bone and a goal apiece from strikers Ash Boatswain and Dom Telford.
The game marked a step-up in preparations for the new National League season for Lavery and his new team-mates on the back of their first week of pre-season training - and Lavery is ready for the challenges that lie in wait as he enters the next chapter in his career.
He said: “I’m really enjoying it. I came in last week and met all of the lads and the gaffer as a coach for the first time, it’s been brilliant. I’m learning a new system here in training so there’s been a lot to do but I’m working hard and just want to grasp the opportunity. I have been at Sunderland for 11 years and last year I went out and go a loan spell in senior football. I was ready for the next step, I wanted to play men’s football week-in, week-out. Me and Sunderland both knew that wasn’t going to happen there so coming out to Gateshead, it’s still local, I’m still living at home, it’s a great club and I couldn’t ask for more really. I just want to kick on and create my own career in the first-team game now.”
Impact
Tom Lavery of Sunderland AFC.placeholder image
Tom Lavery of Sunderland AFC. | Getty Images.
Although competing in the National League can provide a daunting prospect for many young players, Lavery has already been given some experience of what he could face in non-league’s top tier during a promising loan spell at Halifax last season. After impressing during a loan stint with Cliftonville during the first half of the season and grabbing the first senior goal of his career in a 2-2 draw with Glentoran, the youngster produced several solid performances for the Shaymen during the final months of the campaign as they fell short in their push for the play-off places. Lavery is keen to take the positives from his stint at The Shay and insisted his time there has given him confidence he can make an impact at Gateshead.
He said: “We were pushing for the play-offs for most of my time at Halifax and I got on with the gaffer and the manager there because they were great. They were all grounded and they helped me get to know the league and it’s made me feel as if I am ready to really make an impact here.”
Lavery will hope to impress once again when Gateshead visit Northern Premier League East side Heaton Stannington for their second pre-season friendly on Saturday before their attention turns towards a visit to National League North neighbours Hebburn Town on Tuesday night.
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