By Emily-Rose Toohey
Stanthorpe’s Jack Reedy, 15, has been training for almost 10 years in soccer and now he is travelling the world with Euro Football Star.
Just last month Jack was in Paris and this September he will be off again to England for more professional training and games, but Jack said it has taken a lot of work.
“I started playing soccer when I was five or six, I think I was forced to by my parents for exercise,” he said.
“I loved it as I got older and my parents got me watching more of the European games.”
He said these games are very different from Australian games, something he has learned from first-hand experience.
“It’s lots faster, the players are stronger – the way they play, their tactics, and how they move the ball is so different,” Jack said.
Jack’s evolution as a player started when he played for Stanthorpe City, and his Dad Chris Reedy said he played with them until he was eight.
“Then when he was 10 he made it into the Brisbane Roar Youth Academy in Brisbane and we started travelling with him for training,” Chris said.
After playing for the Toowoomba Thunder (NPL, National Premier Leagues), he said that Brisbane City approached them about Jack joining their team.
“Jack trains three times a week in Brisbane for an hour and a half on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays,” Chris said.
“On Wednesdays, he now travels to the Gold Coast and trains with Shane Smeltz Football.
“It’s a big commitment and is time committing, but Jack is very dedicated, very passionate about the game, and he’s self-motivated.”
Euro Football Star aims to help soccer players kick off their professional careers, and Jack’s coach Ray Wood said he was initially a winner of a 2018 competition with the organisation.
“I’ve seen an improvement in his game, he’s gone up about three or four levels,” Ray said.
“I have high expectations for Jack, he is good if not better than those I trained 10 years ago who are now playing in the premiership league.
“As long as he stays fit and healthy and keeps working hard, he’ll make it far – the sky’s the limit.”
Ray said it was also a testament to Jack’s supportive family that he has accomplished so much.
“He’s an absolute pleasure to work with,” he said.
Despite all of the training and travel, Jack said his commitment to the game has not hindered his learning at Stanthorpe State High School where his teachers have been really flexible.
“Travelling overseas has been amazing, my parents say to me that I’m really, really lucky,” he said.
“What 15-year-old can say they’ve travelled to and played sport overseas?”
