Noah Jackson ready to seize UK soccer opportunity

MIRBOO North Secondary College student Noah Jackson is preparing to put his soccer skills on show in the UK in September with the 15-year-old part of an Australian Academy squad that will take on academy sides from famous clubs including Manchester City and Liverpool.

He’ll be playing eight games over two weeks, telling the Sentinel-Times what he is doing to prepare for the rigorous schedule.

“At the moment it’s a lot of conditioning and running,” Noah said, adding that the fitness levels of players in the English sides he’ll be up against are high, but he is confident in his own fitness.  

Passionate about the sport he took up aged just four, Noah earned the chance to audition for a future professional career by making a favourable impression during a trial run by Global Football Network in Melbourne’s Bundoora during April.

He received the news a couple of weeks later that he will be part of the Under 16 development squad selected from across Australia.

“I’m excited about it and hopefully it opens up more doors for me,” Noah said of his upcoming UK experience.

He has loved soccer since he took it up and said it is a major part of his life.

Still, he’s not letting the pressure get to him.

“It’ll be a good experience for me and then I can see where it takes me,” he said.

Asked about whether he was expecting to cop some cheeky comments as an Aussie in England, Noah was again unfazed, saying he does but will take them in his stride and it might well provide extra motivation.

While willing to fill whatever role is required, he particularly enjoys playing as a defensive midfielder, a position he understands he is likely to play in England, but he tends to be a right back in the Under 18s squad for Gippsland United in the National Premier League.

Noah, who started his soccer journey with Bunyip and then Mirboo North was part of the Melbourne City Academy squad until a change in training days forced him to withdraw from it.

He said he gained valuable knowledge during his time with that squad, with important skills and approaches taught but an emphasis on not overcomplicating the game.

Noah’s mum Sarah Jackson said there is a lot of driving involved in getting him to where he needs to be for training and matches and a huge cost for petrol, but added that she wouldn’t change her role as chauffeur.

A couple of Noah’s younger siblings represent Mirboo North on the soccer pitch, with Sarah having encouraged the kids to pick a sport other than Aussie Rules.

Member for Gippsland South Danny O’Brien recently threw his support behind Noah, highlighting the exciting opportunity ahead and encouraging people to contribute to Noah’s fundraising efforts if possible.

Noah has set the fundraising goal of $7,999, with the tally having reached a little over $1,700 by the end of last week.

As well as expenses for Gippsland United and Melbourne City and exorbitant fuel costs, Noah now needs to cover airfares and fees for the UK trip. 

Donations can be made through the Australian Sports Foundation by visiting asf.org.au/projects/noahs-uk-soccer-tour-september-2023