From heartbreak to Baller League and Angry Ginge’s Yanited

Content creator Angry Ginge, former England captain John Terry and presenter Maya Jama – it’s not a line-up you might typically expect, but the world of Baller League has them all rubbing shoulders.

The UK edition of the new football league kicked off in March, bringing together ex-pros, creators and rising players all on one pitch.

The six-a-side tournament, fronted by YouTuber KSI, shakes up the game with its 15-minute halves and a 3 vs 3 format in the closing minutes.

Now on its second season, the league has opened the door for young footballers, like Bryan Ly, who have spent years trying to get wider recognition.

He tells BBC Newsbeat getting the chance to showcase his talent in front of football legends like John Terry and Ian Wright, who are among the team managers, has been “absolutely crazy”.

“I’ve had Ian Wright come up to me and be like: ‘Bry you’re a very good player’ – these type of people, where they can recognise what I’m doing – it’s crazy.”

Like many young kids growing up, becoming a professional footballer was Bryan’s dream.

Born in Ireland, his parents moved to Manchester when he was 10 as they wanted to give him and his seven-year-old brother the “best opportunity” to make it.

The 22-year-old’s talent was noticed as a teenager and he joined Morecambe FC’s under-16s academy.

He hoped to get offered a professional contract at the end of his two-year scholarship, but he was dropped at age 18.

“If I’m being 100% real, when I got released, I honestly thought my life was over,” Bryan says.

Afterwards, he emailed more than 90 clubs “begging for a trial”, but he kept getting rejected.

He said it was a “reality check” which forced him to reconsider his career path, and credits his family with being “very supportive” of him at the time.

Bryan later joined non-league club Wythenshawe at age 19, and following a season at Bury FC, he returned to Wythenshawe as an attacking midfielder for this season.

His attention was drawn to the world of Baller League when he saw a video on social media which highlighted some of the ex-pros and content creators attached.

The league features 12 teams with some pretty well-known managers on the bill, including England footballer Chloe Kelly, actor Idris Elba and presenter Maya.

Following a trial, Bryan was drafted in and joined the N5 team, which was managed at the time by former pro footballers Jens Lehmann, Robert Pires and Freddie Ljungberg.

“Obviously, I wasn’t old enough to watch them in their prime,” he says.

“But watching clips back, they’re amazing footballers and a lot of fans look up to (them), so to be managed by them and to be coached by them – it was surreal.”

He went on to be the top goal scorer in the competition last year with 21 goals.

“Its amazing for people, like young lads, especially non-league, who maybe aren’t given that opportunity or aren’t really seen,” he says.

“It really highlights and showcases your talent.”

It has also helped him secure brand opportunities and grow his presence on social media, as well as leveling up his skills.

“If you told me a year ago I would have played against an ex-Premier League defender and (tried) different things against him, I would have laughed in your face,” he says.

However, Bryan, who also works with a specialised programme which helps young people facing challenges in mainstream schools, says it can be tiring balancing his job and playing for two teams.

It is also very physically demanding, he admits, as Baller League referees don’t hand out many fouls.

“You could be pulled, you could be kicked, they might not give you the foul.”

Like many footballers, he’s also had to contend with online abuse, but he has “got to a point where it fuels” him.

For this season he’s moved teams to Yanited, managed by one of the UK’s most popular streamers, Angry Ginge.

But his manager has been out-of-action for the past three weeks as he has been down under competing on I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here!

After enduring a host of bushtucker trials, the 24-year-old Mancunian content creator was crowned the king of the jungle during Sunday’s final.

Bryan says the team watched Angry Ginge, whose real name is Morgan Burtwistle, every night and he’s glad the creator showed he is “actually a real human being who’s got feelings”, rather than just a streamer known for “shouting at a video game”.

Once Angry Ginge is back on English soil, they hope he leads the team to victory in the league, which will take place every Monday until 5 January.

“He’ll come back, he’ll take over, we finally get to the top four,” says Bryan.

“And, hopefully, we lift the Baller League trophy.”

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