We caught up with Sam Hetherington after he signed his first professional contract at the club.
Speaking to CUTV, Sam said: “I feel really good. It’s something that I've always wanted since I started playing. It's just a really good feeling.
“Mum and Dad are really happy, probably as happy as me. So it's nice for them as well. My friends come and watch me whenever they can and they're all chuffed for me, too.
“My parents come with me everywhere. All my loans, they went to games, traveled for hours, took me home, took me everywhere. Yeah, they'll be really happy.”
Talking through his journey so far, Sam explained: “I came in at under-12s and then just kept getting a year's contract up until my scholarship where I was offered the two-year scholar, I was then offered my third-year scholar and then now just being offered my first professional contract.”
Sam spoke highly of the coaches who had helped him throughout his time with the club, saying: “There's loads that have been a big help. I couldn't pinpoint many, but obviously you've got the likes of Birchy [Mark Birch]. I've worked closely with him for probably three years now. He's been really good with me.
“Also Danny Grainger when he was in and around the youth team. He took me to Workington for my first loan, which really helped me kick on from where I was.
“We had Paul Boertien, he was really good. I do stuff with him in the off-season too."
Sam made his first team debut this season, we asked him about that experience and how he felt, he said: "It's something that you only dream of, don't you?
"It's just a really nice feeling. I didn't know I was going to be playing, then I got told I was starting.
“I was thinking that I’d maybe come on for a little bit but then I found out I was starting. It was just really exciting.”
Sam has spent plenty of time around the first team this season, and spoke fondly of the relationships he’d built, stating: “I get on with all the lads, they're a really good bunch. When I first went in, Charlie Wyke was great, Jordan Jones put his arm around me massively when he came in, but all the lads, I could name most of them, they've all helped me.”
Hetherington was also named on the bench for the final game of the season.
“Obviously, I wish I’d got on, but at the same time, it's nice that he's thinking about putting me on. It's getting me in and around it, getting me a bit of a taste of what's hopefully to come.
“It would have been nice to make my debut but things happen, it was a close game, it's understandable.”
Mark Hughes was full of praise for Sam after the season ended, we asked how those words had made Sam feel, he explained: “It’s unbelievable really, when you think about his career, what he's done. Man United and Barcelona, and he's saying those kinds of things about you. I didn't stop smiling for a few days So yeah, it's really nice. I had people sending me it, it was in the paper. I had around five messages about it.”
The midfielder has also gained some valuable experience out on loan last term at both Workington and Darlington.
“I think it's probably toughened me up a little bit, it's quite a lot different to playing youth team football.
“I've played a lot of games now, a lot for Workington and then a lot for Darlington this year in the National League North, so I think it's just give me the experience and to know what a game that means something is like so I'll be ready whenever or If I ever get called upon.”
Sam netted a couple of goals during his time in the North East, something he’s keen to build upon, he said: “It’s something I've always wanted to add to my game, goals and assists, but yeah, it was nice to tick off a few for Darlington.
“You get a shock at how good the standard of non league football is and there's money in it.
"There's good pitches, there's good players, players who've had careers in the EFL and people playing later on in their career and then there's young lads coming through and stuff and it's a good experience. So it's definitely made me ready for when I get my opportunity.”
On his personal aims for next season, Sam said: “I hope to be in and around the squad. Firstly, you want to come back for pre-season and be as fit and strong as you can to try and show everyone what I can do and then be in around the first team.
“Hopefully make my league debut for Carlisle and yeah, see what happens from there.”
