Overseas trial for school player

[Reproduced courtesy of author, Walter Pless]

Greg Downes, the 15-year-old South Hobart midfielder, is about to embark on the adventure of a lifetime.

Downes is heading to the UK for trials in early August with English Premier League club Sunderland and with Division One club Walsall.

Downes made his senior debut for South Hobart’s Premier League side only this season and, with the absence of four key players recently, has started to play regularly.

“I’m really excited about the trials,” Downes said. “I don’t know how I’ll go.

“My parents have urged me on to do anything I believe in and to follow my dreams.

“South coach Ken Morton has had contact with the two clubs and they’re both in the area where I have relatives, so it’s easy as far as accommodation is concerned.”

Downes will be away for a month, during which time league-leader South Hobart faces some crucial matches in its quest for the title, including against Hobart Zebras, the reigning champions, who are currently third.

“I would have liked to have been here for the game against Zebras, but my dream is to be a full-time professional footballer,” said Downes, who did well in Saturday’s 1-0 win over New Town Eagles.

“The boys did all right against Eagles and the win kept us on top of the ladder.

“In the second half, we really knuckled down to the task.

“I thought my performance wasn’t too bad, although I thought I could have got into the game a bit more.

“The boys did pretty well, though.”

Downes has been playing soccer since he was seven and South Hobart has been his only senior club.

In the reserves, he has been playing in central midfield, but at senior level he is used wide on the right, the position which he prefers.

A Year 10 student at Taroona High School, Downes lives and breaths football and he has been helping out with the training of South Hobart’s under-13s in an endeavour to improve his own game.

He is confident that South Hobart can continue to lead the league and win the title.

By the time he returns from his trials in the UK, the picture should be much clearer.

The experience he gains during the trials will serve him well when he resumes his place in the South Hobart side and may just be crucial in the run-in to the title.