Solly March says missing out on a move to Newcastle United proved to be a blessing in disguise. The Brighton winger has been in fine form under new boss Roberto De Zerbi, with four goals and two assists to his name in his last five outings.
The 28-year-old has now clocked up almost 260 Brighton appearances and it's difficult to imagine him in any other shirt. However, as has been well documented, March came close to joining the Magpies under Alan Pardew.
Then playing for non-league side Lewes, March was offered a trial at St. James' Park and was travelling up to the North East with his dad. However, March passed out in the car and he thought his chance at becoming a professional had passed him by.
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“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,” the Brighton winger told Sussex Live.
“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.”
Newcastle would give March another opportunity to come on trial at St. James' Park. Nonetheless, he'd been approached by Brighton who were were on the rise in the Football League.
“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.”
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