Young Kiwis in UK

Friar Tuck

First Team Squad

3.6K

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1.4K

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over 6 years

coochiee

RR

AucklandPhoenix

Who is his Dad?

Marley Leuluai, son of former Kiwi Kylie Leuluai

This is the 2018 article about him https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/football-marley-leuluai-thrives-at-manchester-city/TOASYSOGGSUSR2RK6HPR7DJJG4/

Nephew of Kiwis legend James Leuluai. Interesting read. Certainly is a different world for kids in those elite academies, they don’t want for much. Challenge to keep them grounded no doubt

Hopefully he choses NZ if he proves good enough for international football. When is next U17s WC?

Next U-17 World Cup is next year in Peru. OFC qualifying is supposed to be in September this year, Fiji apparently the hosts?

July 23, 2022 17:21

carlind

WeeNix

1.6K

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980

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over 3 years

Friar Tuck

coochiee

RR

AucklandPhoenix

Who is his Dad?

Marley Leuluai, son of former Kiwi Kylie Leuluai

This is the 2018 article about him https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/football-marley-leuluai-thrives-at-manchester-city/TOASYSOGGSUSR2RK6HPR7DJJG4/

Nephew of Kiwis legend James Leuluai. Interesting read. Certainly is a different world for kids in those elite academies, they don’t want for much. Challenge to keep them grounded no doubt

Hopefully he choses NZ if he proves good enough for international football. When is next U17s WC?

Next U-17 World Cup is next year in Peru. OFC qualifying is supposed to be in September this year, Fiji apparently the hosts?

OFC U16s are now set for January next year in Fiji. ‘06 born players eligible, but chances probably aren’t that high that a City academy player would come down for one

July 23, 2022 18:07

watching_from_far

WeeNix

390

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910

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about 11 years

Why wouldn't here come down if he makes the team? Help the team qualify for a world cup and cement himself as part of the squad.

July 23, 2022 18:31

Khalil Media

First Team Squad

1.3K

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1K

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almost 15 years

James Leuluai, jeepers what a player he was... If this lad is as good at football as his uncle was at League, he'll be awesome.

July 23, 2022 19:19

mrsmiis

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Starting XI

3.1K

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3.1K

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about 7 years

Bit strange that there's literally zero info on Marley online apart from the other Herald piece a few years back - surely there'd be a bit of chat about for a 15-year-old in line for a pro deal at a club like Man City? I'm not incredibly familiar with the pathways in such huge clubs, and not really sure if players that young are publicised at all, but found it weird there's not a single mention not from the Herald or his family

July 23, 2022 20:11 · Edited July 23, 2022 20:11

coochiee

Legend

12K

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23K

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about 9 years

mrsmiis

Bit strange that there's literally zero info on Marley online apart from the other Herald piece a few years back - surely there'd be a bit of chat about for a 15-year-old in line for a pro deal at a club like Man City? I'm not incredibly familiar with the pathways in such huge clubs, and not really sure if players that young are publicised at all, but found it weird there's not a single mention not from the Herald or his family

Out of sight, out of mind. His dad went to the UK to play league and has stayed ever since. Marley born and raised there

Hopefully he feels like a “Kiwi” but reality is he’s a born and raised Brit, and will sound like one for sure.

Seems he’s done well to survive this long in the Academy system. Whether or not the Citizens sign him on the mooted 3 year youth contract could be telling. Sounds like his dad who is high up in the Warrington Wolves league team setup, is definitely trying to keep him grounded so I guess lots of NZ media stories would go against that

Didn’t David Ball go through the youth system at Man City? I imagine that was mostly before they became a super rich outfit

July 24, 2022 01:16 · Edited July 24, 2022 01:24

RR

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Bossi Insider

10K

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34K

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almost 16 years

The JourneyFan

RR wrote:

mrsmiis wrote:

Lewis Miccio released by Kidderminster today

Has a new club & they have loaned him out

⬅️ All the very best to defender @lewismiccio who has today joined @StourbridgeFC on a short-term loan until 29th November. ?

?? #SMFC #YourSolihullYourClub pic.twitter.com/Emc7Dow5AD

— Solihull Moors FC (@SolihullMoors) October 30, 2020

Solihull Moors are in the Conference (Tier 5), Stourbridge are in Southern League Central Premier (Tier 7)

🇦🇺 ¡dooH ɐ sı oıɔɔıW

We're delighted to announce the signing of Australian full-back Lewis Miccio.

Welcome to the Hoops Lewis!#OCFC
— Oxford City FC (@OxCityFC) July 21, 2022

July 25, 2022 09:18

YoungHeartHM

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Starting XI

7.3K

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4.9K

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almost 10 years

Debut. 3pts. Clean sheet. Great feeling being back on the grass 🤝🧤 https://t.co/6GFa6yykMa
— Zac Jones (@zac_jones11) August 27, 2022

As the tweet states, makes his debut for Haverfordwest County in a 3-0 win.

August 28, 2022 14:36

carlind

WeeNix

1.6K

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980

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over 3 years

Joe Jeremiah, who's been on loan in the English Southern League Division One South (8th tier), has apparently been invited to come down to play for Eastern Suburbs to try get a gig in next year's U20 World Cup, according to a story on Gloucestershire Live.

Bishop’s Cleeve’s Joe Jeremiah could be on his way to the 2023 Under-20s World Cup with New Zealand.

The 19-year-old has been playing regularly for the Mitres in Southern League Division One South after joining them on loan from Gloucester City.

He has been invited to join Auckland-based club Eastern Suburbs AFC at the end of January with a view to earning a place in the New Zealand Under-20s – known as the Junior All Whites - that will be competing in Indonesia next summer.

“I spoke at length with the Under-20s coach (Darren Bazeley) last week and was invited to join Eastern Suburbs,” Jeremiah said.

“Their manager (Kane Wintersgill) spoke to me about pre-season dates, how I play and that it’ll be a good chance for them to have a proper look at me.”
Jeremiah was at Cheltenham Town from nine to 13 before spending a couple of years in Newport County AFC’s academy.

His dad’s side of the family are from Wales and he was called into the Welsh regional squad and played in the Cymru Cup during his time with Newport.

He then joined Forest Green at 16 and spent two seasons as a scholar there.

Trials at Watford and Wycombe Wanderers followed before he joined Gloucester at the start of last season and was in and around Lee Mansell’s first team squad for much of the campaign.

Jeremiah was born in New Plymouth on the west coast of the North Island of New Zealand, but his family moved to Gloucestershire when he was four.

November 24, 2022 11:27

MetalLegNZ

Marquee

4.1K

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5.6K

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almost 12 years

Read this yesterday - good on him for trying to get in the window.

November 24, 2022 12:47

coochiee

Legend

12K

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23K

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about 9 years

From Flying Kiwis.

Matt Dibley-Dias been getting up to some serious activities with the Fulham U21s lately

Would be nice to see him in that NZ U20 World Cup squad in May…#FlyingKiwis pic.twitter.com/mVbMMP3FCj
— The Niche Cache (@thenichecache) January 24, 2023

Chucking this one up here to keep a conversation going. Dibley-Dias has been steadily rising up the ranks at Fulham and is now a regular for their U21s where he’s played in a few different positions though mostly in the midfield. Scores some banger goals too. This one here was against Porto in the Premier League International Cup, a game which Fulham won 3-0. Makes you wonder how close he is to perhaps sneaking into the first team equation.

MDD was both in Aotearoa though raised in England with English, Portuguese, and Brazilian heritage making him eligible for all four nations. His priority is Brazil for obvious reasons but NZ Football have definitely made some overtures and, let’s be honest, one of those four countries is much easier to crack than the others. Ball’s at his feet now so if he wants to play at the U20 World Cup then he can with Aotearoa. Come on Matty Dibs, you know you want to.

Up Next: Bit more U21s mahi away to Everton on Saturday morning (NZT)

January 25, 2023 00:04

Wusty Wab

WeeNix

1.1K

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660

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almost 2 years

Adam Watson was on the bench for Stoke City's U18 team as they were unfortunately knocked out of the FA Youth Cup over the weekend, being comfortably beaten 4-1 by West Ham in the 5th Round.

Stoke City are back in action in the U18 PL this weekend against Wolverhampton. Watson actually had a few starts in a row in which he scored his first goals before going to play with the U17s, hopefully his hat trick and performances at the OFC Championship will help him earn that back.

February 08, 2023 23:41

YoungHeartHM

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Starting XI

7.3K

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4.9K

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almost 10 years

3rd goal of the season for young Adam Watson. Came on in the 65th minute in this one. As you can see, they did it easy in the end against Middlesbrough.

Stoke sitting 4th in the U18 Premier League North, behind Manchester City, Sunderland & Manchester United.

February 26, 2023 06:57

Wusty Wab

WeeNix

1.1K

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660

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almost 2 years

Watson has another goal for Stoke City U18, came off the bench and scored in the 93rd minute to secure a 1-1 draw away to Middlesbrough.

March 26, 2023 23:40

RR

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Bossi Insider

10K

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34K

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almost 16 years

Another future tug of war of a young player looming?

As mentioned in @adampeacock3’s below article, Manchester City centre-back Marley Leuluai (2006 - 🇳🇿🇦🇺) is another dual nationality player who is understood to be eligible for Australia. Leuluai recently captained New Zealand U17 at the OFC U17 Championship. https://t.co/vomK593yR1
— AussieScout (@scout_aussie) March 27, 2023

The article mentioned is behind a pay wall but the story is about other 'Alex Robertsons' out there for Aussie to snap up.

March 28, 2023 18:31

coochiee

Legend

12K

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23K

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about 9 years

Coming from a famous NZ rugby league family, I think it would be a shock if he threw his lot in with Australia. This article from a year or so ago, talks about his NZ ties

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/football-marley-leuluai-thrives-at-manchester-city/TOASYSOGGSUSR2RK6HPR7DJJG4/

March 28, 2023 18:59 · Edited March 28, 2023 20:52

carlind

WeeNix

1.6K

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980

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over 3 years

Maybe us and Australia can have our own Jonathan Gomez.

What a career already.

March 28, 2023 19:43

YoungHeartHM

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Starting XI

7.3K

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4.9K

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almost 10 years

I'm afraid you're tempting fate with that kind of post Carlind 😅

Australia have their U17 Asian Cup campaign in June/July, doubling as the Qualifier for the U17 World Cup in Peru.

March 28, 2023 21:46 · Edited March 28, 2023 22:16

carlind

WeeNix

1.6K

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980

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over 3 years

Don't think players can play in qualifiers for a single tournament for two different countries or play for a different country to the one they qualified with, so if I'm right the earliest he could play for Australia (if either party wants to, of course) would be U19s - or U18s if they run those. Luka Coveny could play for both Australia and then NZ because he only played in the AFF U16 tournament as opposed to any AFC qualifiers.

Friends of Football also reposted a story today that Leuluai is set to be released by Manchester City instead of being given any contract extension. He's set to go on trial with Rangers is Scotland, where professional deals can be offered at 16 rather than at 17 which is the minimum age in England.

March 30, 2023 13:11

Friar Tuck

First Team Squad

3.6K

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1.4K

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over 6 years

Disappointing, would’ve liked to see him play in the PL2 (same league as Dibley-Dias) but not hugely surprising considering how big City are.

Hopefully he snaps up a good deal somewhere and keeps developing, early days but he could well be Reid’s eventual heir.

March 30, 2023 14:51

Wusty Wab

WeeNix

1.1K

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660

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almost 2 years

And who knows, Leuluai obviously isn't a striker but if he passes his Rangers trial, signs a professional contract, continues to do well and stays for the long haul, we could see another Kiwi and Killen playing in the CL.

March 30, 2023 15:05

coochiee

Legend

12K

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23K

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about 9 years

It's a very small number of kids who go from youth deals, to say becoming regular EPL players. Howieson, Butler, Brotherton, Woud, Payne, Patterson are just some of the Kiwis I can think of, that at one point in recent times were signed as teenagers in the UK. Sure none of them were at a club as big as the Citizens, but it's far from a guaranteed pathway to the big time. David Ball was I think at Man City as a kid??

Leuluai has lived most of his life in Lancashire. Though he's obviously a talented young footballer, being basically a local would have been a major factor in getting a youth deal at Man City.

March 30, 2023 15:16 · Edited March 30, 2023 15:19

RR

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Bossi Insider

10K

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34K

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almost 16 years

coochiee

It's a very small number of kids who go from youth deals, to say becoming regular EPL players. Howieson, Butler, Brotherton, Woud, Payne, Patterson are just some of the Kiwis I can think of, that at one point in recent times were signed as teenagers in the UK. Sure none of them were at a club as big as the Citizens, but it's far from a guaranteed pathway to the big time. David Ball was I think at Man City as a kid??

Leuluai has lived most of his life around the greater Manchester area. Though he's obviously a talented young footballer, being basically a local would have been a major factor in getting a youth deal at Man City.

Yep, Ball came thru the City Academy.

As the previously posted article mentioned, He had interest from Blackburn before signing with City. If Rangers don't grab him, he might end up on our books.

March 30, 2023 15:26

MetalLegNZ

Marquee

4.1K

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5.6K

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almost 12 years

Often injured though, much like his father.

March 30, 2023 21:10

YoungHeartHM

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Starting XI

7.3K

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4.9K

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almost 10 years

Latest score 1-0 Potters goal scored by Adam Watson https://t.co/w8v3HyN83L pic.twitter.com/yulzxcXF1l
— Paul Ruane (@PaulRStoke) April 22, 2023

Adam Watson doing well for his Stoke U18's side of late.
3 goals in his past 4 appearances, and 5 in 17 appearances for the season.

Nice purple patch of form for the youngster.

April 22, 2023 23:23

YoungHeartHM

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Starting XI

7.3K

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4.9K

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almost 10 years

Make it a double on the day in a 2-2 draw.

Goals this season now against (U18 sides of course)
Manchester City
Nottingham Forest
Middlesbrough
Blackburn
Liverpool

April 23, 2023 00:20

RR

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Bossi Insider

10K

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34K

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almost 16 years

Leuluai confirmed he is leaving City's academy

Australia-eligible centre-back Marley Leuluai (🇦🇺🇳🇿🇼🇸🇳🇱 - 2006) has announced that he will be leaving Manchester City at the end of this season. Leuluai has spent 9 years at the club.

Leuluai has captained NZ at U16/17 level and was on trial at Rangers earlier this month.
— AussieScout (@scout_aussie) April 30, 2023

April 30, 2023 16:29

coochiee

Legend

12K

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23K

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about 9 years

He doesn't lack choices re his international future. Hopefully his career goes better than having to wear a Samoan jersey.

April 30, 2023 17:44 · Edited May 01, 2023 00:28

Hutcho137

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Trialist

48

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45

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about 1 year

Marley also had a trail game with Stoke City after the Rangers trail

May 02, 2023 11:39

mrsmiis

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Starting XI

3.1K

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3.1K

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about 7 years

Playing alongside his NZ U17 teammate in Adam Watson, pretty neat

May 02, 2023 13:41

Rusty Dunks

WeeNix

620

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930

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about 9 years

Doesn't look like he played in Stoke's subsequent games against the Bin Dippers or Everton.

May 02, 2023 15:25

Buffon II

Legend

2.5K

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17K

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about 17 years

Anyone familiar with Lawton Green? Young keeper at Greenock Morton.

Apologies if he's been posted about already. Only discovered him today so know nothing about him apart from being New Zealand born.

May 04, 2023 21:32

coochiee

Legend

12K

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23K

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about 9 years

Brilliant pen save from ex Welly Nix backup Zac Jones

Kept a tough clean sheet over 120 mins, then also saved the first 2 takes of the shootout as Haverfordwest sprung the upset to make the final of the playoffs for the last ECL berth in Wales

Heroic activities 🫡#FlyingKiwis https://t.co/ZxPGDr0eUp
— The Niche Cache (@thenichecache) May 6, 2023

May 07, 2023 11:59

YoungHeartHM

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Starting XI

7.3K

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4.9K

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almost 10 years

👀

So safe to say he's ended up at Burnley then?

Nothing I can see via a news feed for this move (unsure if they actually make announcements for academy prospects) but footballers generally don't tag a club unless some sort of agreement has been settled.

Always a good day seeing another Kiwi at a Premier League club.

May 12, 2023 22:32 · Edited May 12, 2023 23:07

Rusty Dunks

WeeNix

620

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930

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about 9 years

Lawton Green's contract not being renewed at Morton.

https://www.greenocktelegraph.co.uk/news/23515041.greenock-morton-reveal-names-six-players-set-depart-club/

May 13, 2023 20:10

YoungHeartHM

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Starting XI

7.3K

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4.9K

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almost 10 years

18 y/o Kiwi goalkeeper Henry Gray has signed a 2-year professional deal with Ipswich Town, who have just been promoted to the Championship.

He's currently with the NZ side in Argentina ahead of the under-20 World Cup. pic.twitter.com/GIZYCyGNzM
— Jason Pine (@pineynz) May 14, 2023

Sounds like he'd been on the cusp of something for a while, and now ends up at Championship club Ipswich Town.

Congratulations on the move, hopefully he can crack the youth sides over there and work his way up.

Love a good young Kiwi talent signing a pro gig for a Monday morning!

May 15, 2023 10:41 · Edited May 15, 2023 10:47

and 3 others

RR

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Bossi Insider

10K

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34K

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almost 16 years

I've always assumed he left the Nix cuz he saw his path blocked by Paulsen, so this is fantastic news for the kid.

May 15, 2023 11:15

coochiee

Legend

12K

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23K

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about 9 years

Oliver Colloty has been training / trialling at Barnsley and has (as I understand it) made a very good impression 🤞🏽 https://t.co/nttD5ZUQMl
— Jason Pine (@pineynz) May 16, 2023

May 16, 2023 18:56

coochiee

Legend

12K

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23K

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about 9 years

Wee bit of history between Barnsley & Aotearoa

Jamie Searle is their third-string keeper. Jesse Randall trialled a few months ago. Now Colloty. They tried (and failed) to sign Joe Bell.

Chris Wood, Rory Fallon, Leo Bertos, David Mulligan & Jeremy Christie all played there too
— The Niche Cache (@thenichecache) May 16, 2023

May 17, 2023 11:22

YoungHeartHM

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Starting XI

7.3K

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4.9K

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almost 10 years

Haverfordwest County AFC are delighted to confirm that goalkeeper @zac_jones11 has agreed a new one-year deal with the club, which takes him through to the end of the 2023-24 season! 💙#SuperZac 🇳🇿
— Haverfordwest County AFC (Q) 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 (@HaverfordwestFC) May 18, 2023

Zac Jones extends his stay in Wales for the 2023/24 season.

His Haverfordwest Country AFC side are also through to the first qualifying round of the UECL, scheduled to kick off in July - Only their second time ever making it to European competition.

So definitely a nice little incentive for him to sign on for the extra year. Hopefully they can get a cup run going when that competition kicks off. 🤞

May 19, 2023 10:51 · Edited May 19, 2023 11:04