Young Kiwis in UK

Good luck to him must have come on a lot...... 

Rohan Ali (Dunedin footballer and futsal player) signs with Inverness Caledonian Thistle

http://www.odt.co.nz/sport/football/238506/football-dunedin-teen-signs-scottish-premier-club 

Does anybody know what happened to these guys? 

http://www.rotoruadailypost.co.nz/news/football-rotorua-teens-head-offshore/1054772/

With particular reference to Walker?

full 90 for max crocombe and oxford united in a 1-1 draw

Oxford gave a debut to 19-year-old goalkeeper Max Crocombe, who did well in the testing, blustery conditions.

Constable's 50th minute header looked to be giving United a fifth win in six games until Maghoma scored with Burton's only shot on target all evening to ruin the night for United's debutant goalkeeper Max Crocombe.

Perhaps understandably United dropped a little deeper than usual in the opening stages to try and nurse 19-year-old Crocombe into his first senior game. The New Zealand under 20 goalie grew in confidence after a couple of nervous early kicks, encouraged with every touch by an appreciative home crowd at his back.

 

http://espnfc.com/us/en/report/358887/report.html?soccernet=true&cc=5901

He did well, but the opposition scored with their only shot on goal all game? :)

I looked at  Forest Green Rovers  website but no info about jason walker

Monty Patterson of Mags and Nz U17s has signed a 2 year deal with Ipswich town

he went on trial a month or so back, Kevin Fallon (his coach at mags) mentioned it in his weekly blog on the mags website

full 90 for zac hibbert with southport in a 3-1 away loss in english conference

http://espnfc.com/us/en/gamecast/347326/gamecast.html?soccernet=true&cc=5901

Monty Patterson, NZ U-17's : deciding between offers from Ipswich Town and Loyola University, USA.

Also news here of Eastern Suburbs 11 year-old Otto Ingham returning to Barcelona for trials next month   :

http://www.stuff.co.nz/auckland/local-news/east-bays-courier/8454660/Young-footballers-in-hot-demand

22/03/13

Monty Patterson is a young man with a big decision to make.

The 16-year-old Eastern Suburbs footballer trialled with professional English football club Ipswich Town last month.

And he came home with a two-year youth contract.

"They basically pulled me aside and said they were going to offer me a spot. I was pretty surprised. Pleasantly surprised though, it's exciting."

But that's not all.

Patterson has just been offered a full scholarship to study at Loyola University in Chicago when he graduates from Mt Albert Grammar at the end of next year.

"They're two pretty good offers to be honest," Patterson says.

"It's a hard choice but it's not a bad situation to be in."

Ipswich want him back in July so he will have to do some fast thinking, he says.

"I would love to be a professional one day. That's obviously my final goal. It's just about getting there."

Patterson plays on the wing and divides his time between the Mt Albert Grammar premier side, the Eastern Suburbs First XI and the New Zealand under-17 team.

He lives in Whenuapai and trains at least once a day.

"It's my passion. There's just nothing else I would rather be doing."

Former All White coach Kevin Fallon works with Patterson in both his school and club teams.

He says Patterson's attitude sets him apart.

"It always looked like he was going to be a footballer," he says.

"He had what I call the ‘eye of the tiger'."

Both offers have advantages for the young footballer in his coach's opinion.

Players often jump at the chance to go to England but there are also positives in having a university education to fall back on, he says.

"He's got a lot of pondering to do in the next few months. But he works hard so he can make it work either way."

Take the education. The Youth system is classic for spitting players out with alarming regularity. If he does have the talent, he will rise through the system at Loyola and have something for when he is done in 17 years time.

Not a very good soccer school though. Don't think they even make top 3 divisions. I'd take Ipswich. 

Doesn't he have a year at school left any way?

Who knows what other colleges may come knocking later, especially after the U17WC.

I'd wait till the end of the year then look around.

he can always get educational after his football only he will have to pay for it, go to ipswich while ya got the chance.

How did that work out for other Kiwis that took the club. I see Rowe and Milne are back here kicking it large after their youth stints at Birmingham and Rangers respectively (yes I can only think of 2 examples off the top of my head)

The US Uni system has been the death bed for more talent Kiwi kids than those chasing the dream in the UK

There are over 350 Uni`s, if you don`t go to the right one goodbye to football career........simple as that

Ok thats a fair point. How is going to a youth farm at Ipswitch going to be any better?

Take the free education. I think its a real no brainer. If this kid has talent, he will rise to the top, end up in England or somewhere in Europe AND have an education.

Are you chasing the football dream or an education ???  Don`t fudge them up or you could lose site of your original goal

In a small way there is an educational path within the academy system.  Wasn`t Cam Howeson exceeding in that area.

Ipswich has been a good hunting ground for young Kiwis.   Norfolk and Smith succeeded....isn`t that 100%

The big difference is he's been offered a youth contract, not a full one. These get handed out to crapload of players in the hope that a very small percentage of them actually works out. Ask Rowe/Milne/Lindsay. As JV said, if he's good enough, he;s got a very good pathway in the US that's worked for a number of NZ players. If he's not, he gets good, and free education. If he fails at Ipswich he gets nothing.

He could go to an average soccer school (it is) and come away with an education and his footballing career could be stunted. sure those like milne failed but the kiwi attitude of "oh it didnt work out for this guy" is negative and unhelpful and ultimately stupid

It's not stupid to look at existing patterns and attempt to draw reasonable conclusions from them. The reality is that youth contracts simply do not work out for great majority of players who get them, you'd be silly not to weigh up the pros and cons of all the available alternatives.

I would say that for every 10 youth contracts that get handed out, 2 stick and invariably, not at the club they did their youth stint at. And yes, I have had some experience with that.

I agree by going through the US system you end up with an education (not always free) but it can stifle your football

How many players a currently in the system, almost a 100 plus, how many have been selected for the draught or beyond, few !!

Yes a good option for the second tier home grown player, but I think the elite should strive higher if given the opportunity

With the likes of Rowe/Milne/ Lindsay, I understand they all had other opportunities in UK/Europe but for a variety of reasons decided to return to New Zealand

Although all 3 have yet to cement a professional career, at least Rowe and Lindsay now have a full New Zealand cap 

What has happened to the likes of Colin Murphy, Anthony Hobbs, Ben Hunt, Sam Blackburn, etc

Ok. So this Monty Patterson, is he getting a look at NRFL? (Suburbs at Div 1, not even Premier) Is he getting a look at ASB? (No) He has to be getting a look at both those levels if he is going to make it otherwise take the education. It's really that simple. Comparative to kids his age that were at that level are Dan Keat, Michael Boxall, Marco and Wood. At 17, they were in ASB sides and featuring regularly.

I'll hang my hat on it that if he takes the Ipswich gig, we are back here in 3 years time and he is just another kid spat out of the system.

Edit: of the 4 names you mentioned, only 1 had regular time at ASB level and he is the only one that disproves what I wrote above. In essence, I guess it validates that if you have got talent, you will shine through

Gk Zach Hibbert has signed to newly promoted side Skelmersdale United in the northern premier league premier division. Hopefully he can help them earn promotion to conference north next season

http://www.osadvertiser.co.uk/west-lancashire-sport/skelmersdale-united/2013/05/30/skelmersdale-united-sign-zac-hibbert-80904-33400208/

Nantwich forward Harry Clayton saw his shot dealt with by Skelmersdale goalkeeper Zac Hibbert.

http://www.osadvertiser.co.uk/west-lancashire-sport/west-lancashire-cricket/2013/08/22/skem-united-2-1-nantwich-80904-33754258/

Jesse edge on trial at birmingham city

Good luck to him.

Is that the Sam Wilkinson Waikato connection coming into action?

Scholarships aren't always what they appear in the US. We're hearing it is a full scholarship which should actually mean everything is paid for [around $30,000 + in USD] but the reality is with the minor sports [and football is minor in collegiate terms - Gridiron & basketball are the big sports and major earners of $$$ for universities] there are only about 10 scholarships on offer at one time [gridiron at division 1 level have 85!!!!] A lot of schools stretch their scholarship numbers so instead og, say, 10 full rides [scholarships] they might offer 20 that are partiatially funded[but still remaining within the $$$ cap]. So, point is - if the US offer is really full ride and therefore a free education - probably a no brainer if he is smart enough. Otherwise the choice is not so clear IMHO

What's up with Scott Basalaj?

Is he still trialling at Partick Thistle?

Doesn't seem to have featured in the last couple of U20s SPFL games for Thistle, so I don't know what's going on with him. It's proving difficult to get any info on how the trail went/is going.

Former Canterbury United and Nelson Suburbs player Tommy Lancaster glimpsed on the TV One 6pm News tonight playing at Buckingham Palace for Polytechnic FC v  Civil Service FC in the game to mark the foundation of the Football Association in 1863.

"Polytechnic Football Club: who are the players?"Telegraph, UK:     http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/10359772/Polytechnic-Football-Club-who-are-the-players.html

Tom Lancaster

Lancaster, 25, was born in Sheffield but grew up in Nelson, New Zealand. Poly, where he has played for three seasons, is his first English team. The telecoms advisor says that his main problem is that he “does not like it that Joe was in the Sheffield Wednesday Academy and he was not.”

Nick Brandford

The 31-year-old from Napier, New Zealand, has been at the club for 6 years. Nicknamed “GQ” he is “considered best dressed man in the team” and works in the commercial property market to pay the bills.

Geoff Brown

The team’s coach, 31, from Wellington, New Zealand, has been at Poly for 8 seasons but had to hang up his boots due to a “dodgy hip”. For his day job he works in telecoms regulation.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/nelson-mail/news/9256420/Look-out-for-grans-windows

"A Nelson man was told by Prince William that it is all well and good to play soccer on the lawns at Buckingham Palace, but don't break a window."

Lancaster - the latest of 17 former New Zealand national league players to turn out for "Poly, as we're known" - said his team drew the lucky straw. "Civil Service FC were one of the founders of the FA back in 1863, so they were offered a home game at the palace by Prince William.

"We, Polytechnic FC, are in their league so, luckily, our league fixture corresponded, and we got to be involved."

WILLIAM WARNS THEM: Tom Lancaster, bottom left, lines up with Prince William for the historic football match at Buckingham Palace.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/sport/9192471/Old-boy-to-play-at-Buckingham-Palace

Lancaster, who lived in Nelson before graduating from the University of Canterbury, said there had been "quite a bit of media attention".

World football governing body Fifa's Mundial television network was "coming down to do a bit of filming at our next training".

"No doubt we will be pretty nervous on the day with a few cameras there."

Lancaster was selected in New Zealand national league all-star teams before he left for his OE....

He played "semi-pro" football for London non-league club Dulwich Hamlet, but they played "60-odd games a season" and he "couldn't keep up with all the midweek games while working fulltime".

... Polytechnic and Civil Service play in the southern amateur league's top division... "The level of football is decent, without being anything special, [it's] similar to Mainland, I guess," said Lancaster, who played in the Mainland Premier League with Nelson Suburbs and Woolston Technical.

"Although the Cashmere Tech team that just won the Chatham Cup would destroy us."

Just come across a young kiwi paying in Wales that I think has slipped under the radar.  He was at Wrexham but now at Cefn Druids:

Andy Pasco. DoB: 23/01/1985. Forward.

New Zealand-born forward who is comfortable on the flanks or up front. Third summer 2013 signing from Wrexham. Can create and score goals.

info here:  Cefn Druids AFC

I'm sure that DoB is wrong, I think its meant to be 1995 although I could be wrong.

 

Yes you're right. He's 18. See here: http://www.cefndruidsafc.co.uk/2013/07/pasco-joins-as-pritch-opts-to-stay/

Cefn Druids play in the Cymru Alliance, which is the second tier of Welsh football so not surprising no one has heard of him! Although Cefn are winning the league so promotion to the Premier League is a real posibility.

Old news, but Dominic Edwards and James Davies signed for Torquay. Edwards is a very good player, was going to make the NZ U20 team, Davies isn't as good. Weird decision IMO but hopefully they go well, more Waikato lads in action.