James Lindsay - Aged 15 - Trial for Accrington Stanley

James Lindsay - Aged 15 - Trial for Accrington Stanley

15-year-old Australian goalkeeper James Lindsay impressed at our West London event and was scouted by UK Football Trials goalkeeper-coach Billy Stewart for a trial for Accrington Stanley.

 

We caught up with James to get a better understanding of his footballing background, why he chose to attend our event and how his trial with Accrington went.

 

First of all James, congratulations on your brilliant trial with UK Football Trials and being scouted by Accrington! You are obviously a talented keeper, could you please tell us a little bit about your football history?

 

I started my serious football journey in 2015 for Swan United, Western Australia. From there I won coaches award during my second season at the club.”

 

“I then moved to Bayswater Soccer Club (National Premier League, top Western Australian league.) I was also playing school football and won the Papas Award, Most promising Goalkeeper). After two seasons at Bayswater, I moved to Ashfield S.C where as a team we came second in the league, and second in the grand final. At school that year I won the Papas award for the second time in a row.”

 

“I also won the Davenport cup (best junior player), as well as making my debut for the school 1st team. This year after my trial, I have followed my Goalkeeper coach to Inglewood United F.C (National Premier League).”

 

Wow that’s brilliant, you have clearly been performing very well for your grassroots and school team. So what was the reason you decided to come along to one of our trials? 

 

“There are not as many opportunities in regards to scouts and top football academies in Australia than compared to the UK. So when I had the chance to trial, I knew I had to give it a go.”

 

Since being scouted, could you please talk us through what has happened since?

 

The training went very well. We started with a 30-minute gym session. Then we went out for a two hour training session.”

 

“The goalkeepers were split off for some time, doing set skills such as distribution and shot stopping, and then we were involved with the small sided games and drills. The quality amazed me compared to what I'm used to, the tempo was very high.

 

That’s fantastic James! Has there been any feedback since, or has any decisions been made?

 

Unfortunately I was only able to attend for two weeks before heading back to Australia, so no decisions were made.”

 

“However, Lewis Stewart (Goalkeeping coach) praised me with my ability, and wished me good luck along the way.”

 

That is absolutely brilliant! As someone who attended our event from Australia to trialling for Accrington Stanley, do you have advice for others who are in a similar position?

 

“I suggest that you should take every opportunity you receive, whether it be big or small, as you may never know what might come out of it.”

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