COREY Addai hopes to be the local lad done even better after already becoming the one come good, even though it will mean heartache on his doorstep.
And the Stockport ‘keeper does not have to look far for the inspiration that has seen him rise from an area where he could easily have taken the wrong path in life.
To say the 6ft 8ins stopper is on familiar turf at Leyton Orient is underplaying it – his parents live just two-and-a-half miles away in Hackney and big mate Thomas Jordan is an Os supporter.
Listen to many and that borough is a write-off – rough, crime-ridden, a place where no-one prospers.
But Addai is a firm believer in ‘life is what you make of it’ and the tattoo on his arm of Martin Luther King’s ‘ultimate measure of a man’ speech makes sure he does not waver.
He said, while giving door-to-door directions from Leyton Orient to home: “It’s not who you are in a convenient situation, it’s who you are in controversy. That’s the real you. It’s on my arm and I live and die by that quote.
“Can you be the same person? It’s about humility and being kind and caring for yourself and other people. If you can give when you have nothing, that tells the kind of person you are.
“Being a young black boy from London, you come across a lot of situations and things you see.
“I could say so much about growing up in London and what I’ve seen but I’m now in a position where I don’t have to see that anymore.
“At the start of the season, we did a thing called ‘Six Pitches’ about why you play football – I put the London Borough of Hackney because I don’t want people to view where I come from as this bad place.
“Google Hackney and it’ll say, ‘the worst place, the top five worst places to llve in London.’ That’s not what Hackney is, it’s my home and I want to represent it in the best possible way.
“Also, my mates and family and say, ‘This is what we are. This is what we can achieve when things are done right.
“’Live the right way. Do the right things. Work hard.’’ Ultimately, that’s what’s got me into this position. ‘You’ve got a chance to get out of here, so go and do it.’ That’s what I represent.
“But what do I do to have humility, do the right things and see good in people? That’s how I want to live my life.”
Addai is the biggest thing in Orient’s way in this play-off semi-final and is used to success after being part of Crawley’s League Two triumph last season.
Life at Stockport started shakily for the 27-year-old as he found himself dropped for Ben Hinchliffe before the latter’s injury saw him back in and prospering.
But given the calibre of team-mate he had in Arsenal’s junior ranks, it is little surprise to see him doing well.
He can then maybe attempt to emulate another of his heroes, Thierry Henry.
The Gunners fan told SunSport: “That team was unbelievable. Eberechi Eze played in it – but I can’t remember if he took penalties then like he does now!
“He’s the biggest star who’s come through and I still speak to him.
“I’m friends with his family. He’s a wonderful human being and I’m so proud to see where he’s got to from where he’s come from.
“But as an Arsenal fan, Thierry Henry is the best player the Premier League’s ever seen and how he conducts himself now makes him someone you aspire to be like.
“If someone goes the season unbeaten, they can have words with me. Until then, I don’t want to hear anything!”
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