We’re told from a young age that if we work hard enough we can achieve anything we want. Wil Southcombe has wanted to be a Newcastle Jets player since he was old enough to walk, and he’s made it.
Wil started playing soccer as soon as he was running around on his two feet.
“I was 4 years old, playing in the local community league at Muswellbrook. I played there until I was 8, and then I moved to the Hunter Hawks in Cessnock.
“I was there until under-12s and after that moved into the National Premier League (NPL) in the under-13s.
“I played for Hamilton Olympic (now Newcastle Olympic) and played right through to the under-18s. In that time, I moved up to Reserve Grade and made my First Grade debut in the final of that season when I was 16.
“I played one season in First Grade with Olympic and when I was 17 years old I was picked up by the Newcastle Jets Youth side.”
Wil said he couldn’t contain his excitement when he got the call from the Youth side coach to ask him to come to training and try out for the side.
“They noticed I had been playing well and had good minutes on the field in the NPL. At the end of the trial, they offered me a spot if I wanted it, which of course I did!
“Last season was the Youth team’s most successful to date, we were undefeated and were promoted into the next league above, so we had a great year.
“One of my most memorable games was against Granville Rage FC. It was our third last game and it had already been confirmed we had won the season with the points we had.
“I played well, I scored two goals and got an assist. It was awesome, we were just on such a high.”
Wil’s mum Sarah works at Bengalla mine in Muswellbrook and said they are all so proud of what Wil has achieved.
“It’s a dream come true for him, we’re super proud. He has never given up or lost sight of his dream.
“It’s a bit surreal watching him play for the Jets, he’s worked so hard to make it. It’s really nice to sit in the stands and watch him play with the team that he’s wanted to be involved with for so long.”
Wil isn’t finished chasing his dream yet, he wants to make the Jets A-League team.
“Ever since I started playing soccer, I have supported the Jets, they are the closest A-League team for us in Muswellbrook. I would come down with mum and dad and friends to watch them so to actually make it onto that squad would be awesome.
“Wherever it takes me it takes me. To play for my country would be an honour, or ultimately if I ended up going overseas I would love to play in England or Italy or Spain, anywhere that has that high quality of football.
“I love the idea of travelling as a professional footballer. I went to Tokyo when I was 13 to play in the international youth championship with the Northern NSW NPL team. It was a great experience.
“I wouldn’t have been able to achieve what I have without my parents. They drove me to practice, to training in Newcastle and always encouraged me to chase my dreams no matter how big they are.”
Wil just finished his first year of a Bachelor of Exercise and Sport Science at the University of Newcastle and is in the thick of pre-season training with the Jets Academy.
