Graham - Carlisle Gave Me A Culture Shock!

Last updated : 20 February 2013 By Tott Dixon - Seaham

Danny Graham: “It helps if you know a few players – Catts and Johnno I obviously know from the youth team at Boro, and I know Westwood from my Carlisle days.

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“That’s helped me settled in really nicely.

“The rest of the lads have been very welcoming as well from as soon as I came in the door.

“I got in the Middlesbrough first-team at a young age, which was amazing only a couple of years after coming from non-league and then going to places like Old Trafford and Anfield.

“But the manager had a lot of big names like (Jimmy-Floyd) Hasselbaink and (Mark) Viduka, and it was going to be hard for a 19-year-old to get in the team.

“My plan was always to go out, play first-team football, and rebuild my career from there. Luckily that’s happened.

“Leaving a big football club at Middlesbrough, where you get everything done for you, and then going away to Carlisle where you clean your own kit and stuff, makes you realise how much you want to get back to the top.

“In terms of my football education, I wouldn’t change going down to League One, and then having to prove myself again in the Championship and Premier League.

“I wouldn’t change it for one bit.

“That’s who I am today. I never take anything for granted.”