McGrath’s Mission For Academy Success
McGrath is currently away on international duty - representing Scotland U19s in Pinatar, Spain. Earlier this season, HQ Magazine sat down with the Hibs Under-18 skipper for a closer look at his journey up to now...
A natural-born leader, with a calm head and big ambition – Joseph McGrath is one for the future!
The 18-year-old has quietly gone about his business, working his way up through the Academy age grades and now captain’s the high-flying Under-18 group.
With international experience to his name, and having recently penned a new contract McGrath is loving his football as he begins the transition from youth football to senior.
Now, in his second full season with the Under-18s, McGrath outlined his ambitions for the year and detailed why he believed the team was on the right track.
“We have toughened up as a group and we are a good unit. We were looking at the stats and last year we conceded two goals a game on average – whereas this season we have been a lot tighter at the back, we have kept clean sheets and that has given us a platform to win more games.
“I think we underachieved last season, we started off really well – but we lost a few players to injury and it didn’t quite go to plan. But the boys my age all gained a lot of experience of how to see out games, knowing how to act in different situations, and how to win.
“That is what we want to do, we want to win – it doesn’t need to be pretty all the time, but that is the mentality that we need to have.
“We have started well, we know it is not always going to be easy, there will be bumps in the road – but we want to win the league. That is the aim, we are all motivated to go and win – that is what we want to do.”
Born into a football family, Joseph often played with his older brother (Connor) – a key part of his early development, he explained.
“All the time, me, my brother and my dad were in the garden! Since I could walk, I have always had a ball at my feet – that is what I have been told anyway!
“My earliest memories of the game are playing with my brother – he is a couple of years older than me, so he played for Bonnyrigg and I used to go and join in with his friends.
“I eventually played in the team in the year below them, but I would always train with the older age groups. I enjoyed it a lot and loved the challenge of playing with the older boys.
“I used to go and watch his training anyway, I just wanted to be with my big brother and my dad and get out the house!
“I think playing with the older boys as a kid helped toughen me up. It is always good to test yourself at a higher level.”
McGrath’s motivation and desire to succeed are evident for all to see. A wise head on young shoulders, the versatile defender speaks with authority and confidence for his age – two important characteristics for any young and aspiring captain.
“Off the pitch, I have always been quite quiet but on the pitch, I have always been loud and demanding”. Joseph continued.
“I have always been a leader in the team, we have plenty of leaders in the team which is good, so I am not the only one.”
“Daz mentioned it (the captaincy) to me towards the end of last season, and that he saw me as a future captain of the U18s. I stepped in a couple of times towards the end of the season, so that was good for me just to get a taste of it.
“This year it has helped me – I feel like I have more responsibility and I have embraced that; I enjoy that aspect and love having the armband.
“I have watched Daz play growing up, so for him to see me as a leader and a suitable captain means a lot to me.”