What does it take for a young Sydney boy to reach his dream and sign for a European “cosmic football” giant such as Borussia Dortmund?!

The first thing is exceptional talent and technical brilliance, which all the Newington College coaches associated with Jamie can attest to. Indeed many of these coaches played an important, if understated role in Jamie’s elevation to the professional ranks. But for that talent to stand out so stunningly at the age of 15 in an Under 18 competition is testimony to the latent potential and mentality of this young gun.

The next ingredient for a player in Oceania to attract such global interest is relentless desire and fathomless practice. Even a brief trawl through Jamie’s sporting CV reveals an incredible record of coaching clinics, courses, clubs, trials, matches and an insatiable appetite to succeed. But the addition of a supportive family, friends and school is a priceless commodity, without which most perish and fall short of their ambitions.

German clubs, with their recent Champions League successes and the national teams whom rise to become World Champions, are notoriously renowned for their attention to technical development. Allied to the Bundesliga’s athletic reputation and an endless production line of superbly gifted players, the four times ‘weltmeister’ have replaced the Spanish ‘maestros’ of the recent past as the world leaders in Football development.

Jamie’s exploits with the GPS winning Newington College team played an essential part in his development. Playing with older players and some excellent fellow Football technicians under the tutelage of Mr Justin Verco and Mr Brian Baker, honed his combative side against the might of Scots, St Ignatius’ and Joeys. A real measure of his fanatical drive to succeed is that Jamie embraced challenges beyond his years. This will stand him very well in the heartland of industrial Germany.

Jamie will succeed doing what has brought him this far, but taking on the additional pressures and challenges that go with a young aspiring professional. Dortmund supporters are among the most seismic of Football doyens, but always give their players and managers magnificent support and encouragement. The great “yellow wall” holding almost 30,000 supporters in one stand is the largest single populated stand in Europe. For Jamie to one day run out into that awe inspiring amphitheatre will, indeed, make many Newingtonians, past and present very proud indeed.

Jamie is very fortunate that Borussia Dortmund are a club that is famed for its Academy and take a special pride in producing their own stars, with Reus, Mario Gotze, Gundogan, and Schmelzer all home grown and all world established players. Borussia Dortmund also boasts one of the most innovative and technologically advanced player development systems. Their reactions cage is now the envy of Europe and Jamie has already tasted that “recipe”.

With Jamie’s Macedonian heritage, he need look no further than Goran Pandev, the country’s most celebrated player, 2011 Champions League winner with Mourinho and scorer of the all important second goal which defeated Bayern Munich in the final.

Jamie has already exhibited many of the qualities to attract suitors. Now that he has done, other characteristics will be needed. Competition against some of the best young players in Europe, South America and Africa (already on Dortmund’s books). The challenge in developing his core strength to one day train with the first team players. The inevitable topsy turvy vicissitudes of injury, loss of form and another  – “new kid on the block”.

That he has signed for a club that will give him the best possible chance to overcome those obstacles there is no doubt. To have impressed Academy Director and Champions League winner ( and scorer in the final ), Lars Ricken speaks volumes for Jamie’s progress to date. All in Australia and New South Wales must take special congratulations and gratitude for providing Jamie with the infrastructure and opportunity to make that quantum leap.

Outgoing Borussia Dortmund Manager, Jurgen Klopp has become a German icon, nationally and internationally. His signature is being chased by all of Europe’s elite, yet he built his reputation on working very hard with the young and upcoming Dortmund Academy boys who have gone on to World and European Cup success. Jamie will enjoy that same support and encouragement, the rest as they say is “up to him”, with a little help from some prayers from the Class of 2014 and all his Newington mates.

Take a leaf out of Irish International and Hull City Premier League player, David Meyler, Jamie, who upon leaving for his trial at Sunderland said to his father, “I won’t be coming home again. I will be a professional footballer no matter what.”

In the end it’s determination that makes the difference, but home support and away expertise will one day see Jamie in the famous black and yellow striped shirt, not dissimilar to the Newington “Black and White”.

Good luck Jamie.

Mr Brian McCarthy
Director of Football