Chris Rigg’s former youth coach has explained how Newcastle United tried to snap him up before Sunderland did.
Born in Hebburn, Chris Rigg‘s family grew up supporting Sunderland’s fierce rivals, Newcastle United.
However, the midfielder joined Sunderland’s academy set-up while he was still in primary school and has since become one of the club’s most exciting prospects.
Rigg made his senior debut as a 15 year old last season, before he was hounded with interest from the Premier League, with the Magpies eager to lure him to Tyneside.
However, he opted to sign his first scholarship contract with Sunderland and hasn’t looked back since.
Rigg has now started six of the Black Cats’ previous eight games in the Championship and looks set for a regular spot in the team next season.
Things could have all been different though, with his former coach Brian Bell admitting Newcastle tried to snap him up before he had moved to the Academy of Light.
The youngster began playing football as a five-year-old with Tyneside Pumas in the Chase Holmes Youth League, while Bell admitted he already looked like a ‘different breed’ as a very young boy.
Chris Rigg was ‘head and shoulders above the rest’
Speaking to We Are Sunderland, Bell said: “It was a relatively new club at the time, it had been going about a year or two years. My son wanted to take up football so we went down there. They had a parent who was doing the training sessions and you could see that he didn’t sort of have their attention.
“I said to my uncle and the chairman, ‘Can I go in and give the guy a hand?’ Within the space of five minutes, I had them doing what I wanted them to do. The chairman was like, ‘Do you want to take over the team because we haven’t got anyone to do the team?’ If my son wanted to stay then I couldn’t see why not.
“I went towards the end of the session. In the 15 minutes I was there, you could tell Chris was a different breed. He was so elegant on the ball. When you see players getting the ball and they know how to shape their body and make the next move off. I think he was five-years-old but turning six that year. He was at the club and was head and shoulders above the rest really.”
It was only two years later, as a seven-year-old, that Sunderland are Newcastle were competing with each other for Rigg’s signing.
The Magpies were so desperate to sign the midfielder that they eventually sent Peter Beardsley to try and ‘sweeten a move’ to Newcastle.
Newcastle United were desperate to sign the young gem
“We played a cup final at Monkton Stadium and I’ve got a DVD of it,” Bell added.
“It was the Chase Holmes League and it was recorded. It was around about the time when the academies were chasing after him. I think we played Whiteleas in the cup final and Peter Beardsley was there to present the trophy.
“I think it was to try and sweeten a move to Newcastle because they were both chasing after him. He just ran the show. We had won league titles, but it was my first cup final and it was just bittersweet. We went 1-0 down. For him going 1-0 down it was the end of the world. It was like ‘We must win this game’ and he grabbed the game by the scruff of the neck and just took over.”
Riggy definitely made the right choice
It’s funny how Sunderland fans get stick for Chris Rigg being from Tyneside, yet he has rejected them on more than one occasion.
While Rigg’s family are Newcastle supporters, there is no denying that they will be very happy to see the teenager succeeding in the Championship.
The Magpies may be in the top flight, but he wouldn’t have had half as many opportunities as he would here, especially when all their injured players return to full fitness.
Rigg made the right decision staying at the Stadium of Light and I don’t think he will be stupid enough to leave this summer either. He understands exactly the kind of player he can become here.