Wilson Takes Pride Of Place
Words: Garry McKenzie
When Western Pride youngster Josh Wilson made his PlayStation 4 National Premier Leagues senior debut on Saturday night he marked a major milestone in the young club’s history.
The central midfielder came off the bench in the 3-0 win against SWQ Thunder to become the first player from the club’s inaugural 2013 youth intake to work his way through the age-groups to reach the senior side.
The 17-year old earned his debut after a series of stand-out performances for Pride Under 18’s Boys and Youth Men teams this season.
Wilson said he was honoured to be the first Pride boy to go through the ranks.
“It was good to get my first few minutes out of the way as I was excited and nervous at the same time,” Wilson said.
While the teenager only saw 10 minutes of action he was quick to appreciate the higher quality of senior football.
“I noticed a big difference in the speed of play, the ball moves a lot quicker, the passes are a lot firmer and everything’s just harder and faster,” Wilson said.
“The hardest thing about adapting to senior football was that everyone was bigger and stronger.”
Wilson said his time playing for Pride’s youth teams helped him prepare technically for the rigours of senior football.
“The junior teams are well drilled and structured which helps with discipline on the ball when playing in the senior team,” Wilson said.
Wilson’s elevation is a boon for Pride who have spent their first four years building their youth development program from scratch.
The club’s investment first paid off when Jasmin Graham completed her rise from the 2013 Under 13 Girls side to make her senior debut for Pride Women at the start of the current season.
Pride Senior Men’s coach Graham Harvey said Wilson and Graham would not be the last Pride youth players to rise up to the senior sides over the next few years.
“Pride’s current and previous coaches can finally see the fruits of their labour,” Harvey said.
“We now can justifiably say that the club has produced home grown players and the system is starting to work.”
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