“It wouldn’t have suited me” - Brighton star opens up on possible Newcastle United move

Brighton and Hove Albion winger Solly March has revealed he was offered a chance to impress at Newcastle United long before he became a Premier League star at the Amex Stadium.

The 28-year-old has made over 250 appearances since he kicked off his professional career on the South Coast just under 12 years ago and put in an impressive performance as his side knocked holders Liverpool out of the FA Cup on Sunday afternoon.

But it could have been very different for March had it not been for a worrying twist of fate just hours before he was set to go on trial with Newcastle during his time with non-league club Lewes. The winger was one of a number of non-league players being eyed by the Magpies at the time as they looked to add some young talent to former manager Alan Pardew’s squad.

March was offered a trial and travelled to Tyneside in the hope of securing a contract - but events took an unfortunate turn and left him to wait to land a move into the professional game.

He said: “It didn’t go well. I remember looking around and the next day I was going to training but I passed out in the car and didn’t get to training,” explained the Seagulls star.

“I guess going home I thought: ‘Maybe that was my chance gone’, or ‘what’s going to happen?’ You only get once chance in football. Luckily enough Brighton came in for me. If I signed for Newcastle I don’t think it would have gone as well so maybe it was a blessing in disguise.

“It wouldn’t have suited me to go so far away from home at that age, maybe it happened for a reason. Thinking of moving away to Newcastle was probably a bit too much for me at that age.”

March is likely to be part of the Brighton side that will visit St James Park in late February.