In-depth with Millwall’s Alfie Massey: Determination to play midfield saw him leave Arsenal

BY RICHARD CAWLEY
richard@slpmedia.co.uk

Alfie Massey is convinced that his footballing future is as a central midfielder – so much so that it led to his departure from Arsenal.

The 18-year-old, who grew up in Welling, joined West Ham at the age of six before the Gunners paid compensation to acquire him three years later.

But Massey’s commitment to playing in the middle of the park was key in his release as a 14-year-old, then signing for Millwall.

“I was always a midfielder at Arsenal up until U13s,” Massey, who was playing Sunday league football as a kid for Bexleyheath-based Phoenix Lions when he was spotted by the Hammers, told the South London Press.

“They started playing me further back at centre-half. I didn’t think I was very good there.

“I went into a meeting and they said: ‘We’re not going to give you another two years at centre midfield – we like you more at the back’. I said: ‘I’m not going to be a centre-back.’ They said: ‘We’re not going to give you one then.’ I said: ‘Okay. No worries.’

“It was a big thing to do, but I trusted my abilities in midfield and I knew I could get further in midfield than I could at centre-back.

“It was a case of pulling me out. I was still young at the time – there was still time.”

Massey has featured for Millwall in pre-season and says the proudest moment of his fledgling career was playing in the second half against Gillingham earlier this month.

His target for the upcoming campaign is to make his senior debut.

Massey was part of the Lions’ U18 side which dumped Chelsea out of the FA Youth Cup last season before losing to Leeds in the semi-final in front of more than 10,000 supporters at Elland Road.

“It was a surreal experience,” he said. “The Millwall fans made it a massive experience. It made you feel what it is like to play in the first team and what it’s like in front of a full crowd.

“Going to Elland Road was big. It was good to play against a hostile away crowd.We did well.

“At the time, the emotion was disappointment. We were so close – we only lost 4-3. We had a chance in the game. A couple of days after, you felt pride of being a Millwall team that reached the semi-final of the FA Youth Cup.”

Massey’s move to the Lions made travelling for training a whole lot easier after a more testing commute for him and his dad Luke to West Ham or Arsenal.

“Monday, Wednesday and Friday we would train and we would play on Sunday,” said Massey. “We would get the Woolwich Ferry over straight after school. I wouldn’t get back until about 8pm.

“Both of my parents have been a big part of my journey. My dad didn’t play at a high level, he was Sunday League. I’m living his dream.”

Massey was in the same Arsenal age group as Ethan Nwaneri and Myles Lewis-Skelly. But he is quick to big up the Millwall academy’s pedigree.

“The coaches, from when I joined to the first team, are all drilled with the same goal – to get you to the next level,” said Massey, who was put in MC duties for the new signing’s intiation songs during last week’s Spanish training camp. “In some ways, it is better than the big clubs.

“It was a bit nerve-racking (being up with the senior squad) but you’re grateful the gaffer has given you an opportunity.

“You have been waiting for it your whole life, so you have to make sure you grab it with both hands and make the most of it.”

So how has Massey found working with Lions head coach Neil Harris?

“He knows when to give you exposure and when to sit you out and gain the experience you need,” said Massey.

“I have spoken with him off the pitch. After training sessions, he gives me good encouragement.

“He gives a good balance as well and what I need to improve on to get to that next level of where Billy and Sav are.”

Massey name-checks George Honeyman, George Saville and Danny McNamara as players who have been good sounding boards.

“Danny is a local boy who came from the academy,” said Massey. “He knows how it feels to get that opportunity around the first team. I go to him for advice.

“My goal this season is to make my debut.

“It was a really good experience to be around the boys 24/7 (on the trip to Spain) to see what they’re like away from football. It was a really good eye-opener.”

Massey is pleased with his progression.

“I think I’m accelerating quickly,” he said. “Especially being with the first team in this pre-season, you can feel the tempo straight away. It moulds that into you.

“It’s becoming more natural now and I feel as though I’m getting more experience as I’m with the first team.”

Massey’s family are all Liverpool fans. He picks Steven Gerrard as an idol but adds he tries to base his game off Arsenal’s Declan Rice.

His promotion to the senior fold was not as abrupt as his last-minute notice that he was hosting the players’ songs in Alicante.

“I didn’t know until about three seconds before I went up when Hutch told me,” said Massey.  “I got thrown into it and it wasn’t too bad.

“I sung Bruno Mars’ Just The Way You Are. We had an interview before and I bigged myself up to be quite good, but I don’t think I was, to be honest.

“Japhet Tanganga was good. He did One Kiss (by Dua Lipa). I saw him last year a little bit in training with the first team. He’s a good mentor for me.”

PICTURES: PA