Mates Living Soccer Dreams in England

Two Gold Coast soccer players are living their dreams in England.

Tom McWilliams and Justin Watmough, both 18, from Broadbeach United are almost a month into a five-month program at Sheffield Academy.

Tom has deferred a year of university to train at the academy as a goalkeeper and pursue his dream to play soccer professionally.

“I jumped at the opportunity to come live and train over in Sheffield,” he said.

“I feel very lucky and excited to have a great opportunity to train at such a high level.”

Tom said the academy manager had asked him to train with the championship team in the first week he arrived in England to train at the academy.

“I trained very well and the goalkeeping coach was very happy with how I went as well as the other coaching staff,” he said.

“Training with the first team is one of the highlights of my career so far.”

Tom said the opportunity to train at such a high level outweighed the long hours spent training during the day.

“We arrive at the training grounds to train in the morning and after that the club provides lunch,” he said. “Then we have to train again in the afternoon.

“Justin and I also like to stay behind every session and do an extra session in the gym.

“We are trying to utilise all our time at the club.”

He said if he was not offered a contract at the end of the program, it would still be worth it.

“I hope to gain skills and experience that I may not be able to get from training in Australia, and I want to become a far better player,” he said.

“The feedback that I have received has all been positive.”

Zoe Hancock, Gold Coast Mail
11 February 2010

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