He’s a Year 8 St Columba’s College student who’s already taken on the world.
Jack Hutchings, 14, of Yellow Rock, spent his Easter holidays playing against top football teams throughout Europe as part of the Premier League Under 14 Sydney Olympic side’s foray into the Mediterranean International Cup in Barcelona.
The team’s trip from March 29 to April 10 saw them compete in four games, reaching the final round of 16 and topping their pool, something no Australian team had accomplished before, he said.
“We played two Spanish teams, a Denmark international team and an Israeli team and won our pool,” he said.
“We also got to play a trial match against [the biggest club in Portugal] FC Porto, they were an unbelievable side. They set the bar high.”
Jack said he picked up positioning ideas and techniques “just seeing different styles of playing”.
“We got to train with Real Madrid, our technical director organised it and we were coached by one of the Real Madrid coaches. It was really impressive. A lot of boys have come back with fire in them after realising there are so many clubs out there.”
The defensive midfielder has played soccer for eight years, starting at Springwood United. In his final year for the Mountains club at age 11, he was voted most promising junior player. He followed that up with a stint at Nepean and then was selected for the Premier League side, the Blacktown Spartans, where last year his team won the grand final against his current team, Sydney Olympic.
Coach Alex Watson said Jack “certainly has the drive and the desire” to reach the next level in football and was part of a club with a strong youth development program, with a technical director in Arthur Diles, who has “football connections throughout the world”.
“Jack’s got the basic technical ability to go to the next level, it’s about being in the right place at the right time and being given the opportunity, I’d love him to get him there, I’d love to get all the kids I coach there.
“He has a determined attitude, he listens to and follows advice and evaluates himself a lot.”
Watson, who also coaches the NSW Primary School State team, said the trip had been a coaching highlight and the boys had a “football lesson” playing against the tougher European sides.
“These kids have got an experience they will never get again.”
Mum, Karleen, who with husband David, doubles as chauffeur four days a week to Sydney training [at Tasker Park in Canterbury] and his matches said he’s “one very lucky boy”.
“It’s his passion and always has been.”
She credits his fancy footwork to his early years as a tap dancer, something he picked up from watching his two sisters.
“He will be embarrassed that I told you but he was a fantastic tap dancer for about four years. I think he did learn some of his fancy footwork there.”
“It’s up to him where he wants to take it, as long as he’s willing to do it we’ll back him up ... he’s going to look after me in my old age,” she added, laughing.
“My goal as a player is to be scouted by an overseas club and work from there,” Jack said.
“Hopefully I’ll go all the way,” he told the Gazette.
