Joey Harries

From sitting on the floor in non-league to walking out at the Theatre of Dreams, all in just over a decade. I remember sitting on the grass at Wealdstone because the bench was full, waiting for my chance and hoping for a moment to prove myself. Last weekend, after a long layoff, I was sitting on the bench at Old Trafford in the Premier League. It’s funny how life comes full circle. I know some players get frustrated being on the bench, and I get it. I felt the same way during the first few months of my Sunderland career. But sometimes, you need to pause and realise just how far you’ve come. I’ve played in the Ryman Premier, Conference South, League Two, League One, and the Championship. Social media can make it look like every player’s journey is smooth, like we’ve all got it figured out. The truth is, we don’t. In every league I’ve played in, I’ve doubted myself. Wondered if I really belonged. That’s just being human. No matter the level, my approach has never changed: Play football. Did the match go well? Brilliant. You worked hard, it paid off. Smile, enjoy it, and go again tomorrow. Did it go badly? Brilliant. More lessons to learn before you level up. Then take a step back and understand why you made that mistake. Ask yourself: What would I do differently next time? Then show up the next day with the same smile and the same hunger, but now with more knowledge — because you faced your mistakes, owned them, and learned from them. That compound effect, learning from every mistake big or small, is what separates progress from standing still. You’ve got to build a healthy relationship with mistakes if you want to grow. For me, that’s been the key 🔑