Sidelined since late March, Chattanooga FC captain Alex McGrath is still finding ways to make an impact and lead off of the pitch.
Alex McGrath started for and captained Chattanooga FC in the first four matches of this 2025 season until suffering a serious knee injury late in the club’s match against Atlanta United 2 on March 30.
Now five months later, ChattanoogaFC.com had the chance to check in with McGrath about his injury rehab process.
“I'm doing good,” said McGrath. “I mean, as good as you can be without playing, but now things are moving forward. So that's been sort of a good thing that keeps you going if you can see progress, even if it's only small steps. But now everything's good. It's being able to sort of keep myself busy outside of football as well, which I think helps in general, but especially at the minute when obviously you're not playing. I think it's a good way to try and keep your mind off being disappointed week-in, week-out that you're not on the pitch, but no complaints from me.”
After initially not thinking his injury was serious, it was a tough adjustment for McGrath to learn that he would be out for the rest of the season. He’s grateful for the support he has received from the club around him during such a difficult time.
“I mean injuries happen and it's obviously devastating to be out for that amount of time, but I was more gutted just because I felt like we had a really good bunch of lads and I was excited about the games coming up and the season in general,” McGrath said. “So that's probably where it hit a bit harder. It wasn't necessarily just the injury itself and [how] it affected me. I was gutted just to miss out on spending time with the lads.
“I think you have to sort of accept it and get on with it. There's not too much you can do about it, and thankfully the support from everyone was unbelievable,” he continued. “The lads on the team, trainers, Richie [CFC Director of Performance Richard Dixon], the club in general. [It was] unbelievable to be honest, just to feel still, not necessarily part of the team, but when something like that happens to have so many people contacting you and wishing you the best, it pushes you. That's what gets you through that tough time in the first place, having that many people. [You] just feel like they care about you, which, I suppose as a human, that's what you want."
McGrath has been thankful for the structure that CFC’s technical performance staff has provided throughout his injury rehab process. Staying mentally fit has been an important aspect for McGrath, and he’s done his best to find the positives in his situation and has been able to find things to get his mind off of just thinking about soccer, like playing Xbox with friends or looking into new hobbies.
“Even though I want to be playing, I've actually quite enjoyed having the time to do things I wouldn't normally be able to do, so I feel like that's another area that you have to find the balance of,” said McGrath. “If I was thinking about football 24/7, it would probably make this worse because, like I said, when I'm there at the weekend, that's when it probably hits the hardest is when you’re watching and you can't really do anything. During the week of training you can help here and there, but then on the other side of it, just keeping your mind busy with things you enjoy. Obviously, when you're playing you can still do that stuff, but just not to the extent of what I've been able to. I suppose it comes back, even being involved a little bit more in training on the coaching side, it's something that hopefully sets you up better in the future.”
While McGrath has still felt very much a part of the team, he’s still trying to navigate the disconnect that happens when a player can’t be on the pitch and find ways to make an impact between both players and coaches.
“Even when you're playing you're trying to bridge that gap and ultimately you're trying to help with the success of the team,” McGrath said. “I feel like at the minute it's a slightly different role and possibly I have a little bit more of a say. Obviously with the way the results are, I feel like everybody is looking for different opinions. To a certain extent, I think it's better for me because I'm not playing, I don't have that bias to certain things, but that's still something I'm trying to do better at and something I'm trying to figure out really. I think it's a good stepping stone and it's something different.
“Again, it's just finding that balance of obviously, I'm not a coach, I'm still a player, but I maybe have a little bit more freedom than I would if I was playing,” McGrath continued. “Even if it helps one of the lads or I can help one of the coaches the way they've always been trying to help me, I feel like that's something that can be a positive to take out of it as well. I'm not saying my input's going to change us or win us games, but I feel like I probably connect with the lads more than the coaching staff can, just because I'm still a player and if someone's not sure about something and I can try and figure out ‘Right, what do the staff want? What do I see?’ and then how can I pass that on to the lads in a way that I would understand as a player? I feel like that's the challenge at the minute.”
Although he can’t be active on the pitch, McGrath isn’t any less invested in his side’s performance.
“I normally just watch the games with Taylor, my wife,” said McGrath. “That doesn't make it any less passionate. I mean, that's the reality. It's like watching Sunderland (which McGrath grew up supporting), that’s your team. You know, I love playing for CFC. I love being a part of CFC, so obviously the more years you’re here, you pick up that affinity for the team and the club and you want everybody to do well and not just because you’re mates on the field, but that obviously makes an impact. You want your friends to do well and you know that we've got enough to do well and it's always difficult when you're in a bit of a rough patch, so you're always hoping that this is the weekend that we can try and shift the momentum a little bit.
“It's just trying to get that balance of playing style right and then ultimately individual performances to get us over the line,” he continued. “But I'm always gonna be optimistic that we've got enough still to be successful and I feel like at this point of the season, we're just finding a way to make the playoffs and finding a way to get three points out of the next game. I feel like it doesn't make it any easier watching the games. It's probably worse, to be honest. It's normally more nerve-racking watching than it is playing just because you've got no control over it, really.”
In terms of a timeline for his return, McGrath is optimistic that he’ll be ready for next season. He’s focused on the present by finding his place in his new role between CFC’s coaching staff and players, and is committed to completing his rehab before jumping into next season.
“There’s never a good time to get injured, but at least I'm not rushing back to be fit for the middle of next season,” said McGrath. “So if there's ever a good time, at least I'll hopefully get a full preseason to work everything back to hopefully full fitness and being better than I was when I got injured. Hopefully that's the plan and that's always the motivation that keeps you going at the minute, even if things aren't perfect all the time. I feel like, just to have that time frame in my mind of ‘Look, I know that if I do the right things now, I don't have to rush anything.’
“Hopefully things figure themselves out and are at least back on track going into next season,” he finished. “So that's all I'm looking forward to doing. Then in the meantime, it's just about trying to figure out how I can help the lads and even coaching staff this season just to make the playoffs. That's our goal ultimately, because we still have a job to do this year and I'm still a part of that. So it's just finding a way to be somewhat successful in this new role I have, even if it's only a temporary one.”
