How Kieran Trippier’s mum saved career from booze and partying years before Newcastle United success

Kieran Trippier gave a candid account of his off-the-pitch struggles during the early stages of his career on loan at Barnsley.
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Newcastle United star Kieran Trippier has admitted that drinking and partying as a young footballer almost caused him to quit the sport, if it wasn't for a talking-to from his mother.

The full-back was born and raised in Bury and broke into the sport through the youth academy at Manchester City.

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Speaking on the High Performance Podcast with Jake Humphrey, Trippier remembered how he never managed to break into the City first team and was sent packing from a pre-season training camp by Roberto Mancini who deemed the defender to be surplus to requirements.

The Magpies man was just a teenager when boarding the flight home having to find a new club, which is when he made the move to Barnsley.

Trippier joined the Yorkshire club on a short loan deal in February 2010 which was then extended twice to keep him at the then Championship side through the next season, during which he won the Young Player of the Year Award.

As a 19-year-old Trippier experienced his first taste of senior football on loan from Manchester City at Barnsley between 2010 and 2011. He made 42 Championship appearances for the South Yorkshire club, scoring twice. He was also named the club's player of the year in his only full season at Oakwell.As a 19-year-old Trippier experienced his first taste of senior football on loan from Manchester City at Barnsley between 2010 and 2011. He made 42 Championship appearances for the South Yorkshire club, scoring twice. He was also named the club's player of the year in his only full season at Oakwell.
As a 19-year-old Trippier experienced his first taste of senior football on loan from Manchester City at Barnsley between 2010 and 2011. He made 42 Championship appearances for the South Yorkshire club, scoring twice. He was also named the club's player of the year in his only full season at Oakwell.

However, despite success on the pitch, behind-the-scenes Trippier was struggling and admitted to Humphrey that he almost quit the sport altogether.

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He said: "There was one time when my mum came because I was young, on more money. I was doing silly things like going out drinking and stuff like that. There was one moment in my career when I didn't want to play anymore.

"I was living in Barnsley on my own in my apartment and my mum drove up and sat me down and made me realise what they sacrificed every day. My mum and dad worked so hard to get us in that position and I realised how much it meant to my mum and that was the turning point for me.

"It was more about being alone at 18 in Barnsley. At the time I didn't have the people who support you and help you manage certain situations as you do now."

During the podcast, the Newcastle man also took time to talk about his time at St James' Park and why he joined the club from Spanish giants Atletico Madrid.

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Trippier revealed that he had taken a pay cut to join the Eddie Howe project. He said: "I have no regrets in every decision I make. This was the perfect decision for me. There were loads of comments when I first signed saying I came for money or whatever I may be.

"What people don't realise, I came here on less money than when I was at Atletico Madrid. I could've signed a new three-year contract at Madrid."