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‘It helped me as a person’ - Gambian international indebted to Norwich City for helping kick-start his career
Ebou Adams in action for Forest Green Rovers against AFC Bournemouth this season. Picture: Andrew Matthews/PA Wire/PA Images - Credit: PA Wire/PA Images
Gambian international midfielder Ebou Adams is shining for Forest Green Rovers in League Two, and the 24-year-old is forever grateful to Norwich City for helping kick-start his career.
Adams has featured in 24 league games for Mark Cooper's men and is climbing the football ladder again after being released by the Canaries in 2018.
City signed the box-to-box midfielder from Dartford in 2016, when he caught the attentions of EFL clubs following an impressive loan stint with Walton Casuals in the Isthmian League Division One South.
That prompted City to pay a price that Dartford would describe as their 'club record fee' for the midfielder, who made his City U23s debut in a game against Manchester United which featured Sergio Romero, Phil Jones and Memphis Depay.
Adams spent time on loan with Braintree Town, Shrewsbury Town and Leyton Orient during his time in Norfolk.
Ebou Adams during his time at Norwich City. Picture: Matthew Usher/Focus Images Ltd - Credit: Matthew Usher/Focus Images Ltd
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Despite his release, the midfielder is thankful for the education City provided him.
"It was very much important. It helped me out as a player, as a person and helped me tactically and technically as a player," Adams said on his time at Carrow Road.
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"Learning those parts of the game were so important.
"My contract came to an end at Norwich, and they didn't offer me anything. It was then between Ebbsfleet and Leyton Orient.
"I just thought at the time that Ebbsfleet was the better deal for me. Looking at it now, Orient went and won the league.
"It was more for my progression in the end. All I wanted was some more game time, and I managed to get that at Ebbsfleet, so that was important."
Adams never registered a senior appearance for City's first team and is now helping Rovers push for a play-off position in League Two.
On the international stage, Adams is representing Gambia in spite of being born in London.
"International level is the highest level to compete in, football-wise, playing against (countries like) Algeria," Adams told Gloucestershire Live.
"I don't know what made me choose (to play for Gambia), but obviously making my mum and dad proud, who were both born in Gambia, it was an honour. It's an honour to play for any country, really."
