West Brom released youngster Aurio Teixeira last summer and since then he’s lit up the non-league at Alvechurch
Almost a year on from his departure from West Bromwich Albion being confirmed, midfielder Aurio Teixeira is waiting to see what the future might hold this summer having embarked on a non-league adventure with a clear aspiration in mind.
Teixeira, who is 20, has played more than 40 matches for non-league Alvechurch this season having left The Hawthorns at the end of his contract last summer. He’s consistently collected man of the match awards too, for the Church, from his preferred role in central midfield in what has been a memorable campaign for the club; having knocked out League One Cheltenham Town in reaching the FA Cup second round proper, they also reached the semi-finals of the Birmingham Senior Cup recently, before falling to Coventry City at the CBS Arena.
Whatever happens at the end of this season, Teixeira – who is playing without a contract currently – is hoping that more opportunities to play in such stadiums may present themselves further along the line having got plenty of minutes in senior football under his belt for the first time in his career – and showing, despite his slight frame, that he cannot only cope, but flourish.
“It’s an experience I never thought I’d have,” Teixeira told BirminghamLive. “I’ve had the opportunity play in the first and second rounds of the FA Cup, which has been a great experience, possibly the best I’ve had so far in my career.
“For the past month or so we’ve been playing every two or three days [because of the cup runs] – whereas the 23s will probably play once a week, I’m now playing Saturday-Tuesday, potentially Thursday as well, and it was a struggle at the start but as time has gone on my body has adapted.
“PL2 can be predictable, there’s a lot of pattern play. It can be rigid. Where I’m at now, it can be a free-for-all and you don’t know what’s going to happen. Especially playing against men, they don’t care that you’re a kid – they’ll treat you as you are, because you’re on the field of play.
“The mentality – in non-league you’re not guaranteed games. If you have bad form, you get dropped. In the academy you get plenty of minutes anyway. I think every young player should experience non-league at least once in their career.”
Teixeira is aiming high, as any young footballer ought to, but he has enjoyed his learning curve of a season at Alvechurch and, reflecting on the year he’s had, he’s been grateful for the opportunity afforded to him by those at Lye Meadow, where he’s been joined by fellow Albion academy products Jamie Soule, Nick Clayton-Phillips and Harry Williams.
Read the full article: https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/swiss-army-knife-eyeing-next-26750558
Photo: Aurio Teixeira (Image: Alvechurch Town FC)