Sheffield Wednesday Put Coast Pair in Academy

The dream of cracking football's code to fame is beckoning Coast teenagers Tom McWilliams and Justin Watmough with the duo jetting off to chilly England in January for a five-month stint at Sheffield Wednesday's famed youth academy.

Spotted training with the glitter strip-based Total Football Academy by the Championship club's head of youth development Sean McAuley on a scouting trip to Australia earlier this year, the pair will be signed by the Owls if they manage to scale the ladder of opportunity.

McWilliams, 18, is a goalkeeper while Watmough, also 18, operates as a midfielder, the pair joined forces this year at the championship-winning Broadbeach United Premier League club.

A reserve grader at the club, McWilliams — training with the Brisbane Roar's Youth League side — wants to follow in the stud marks of Socceroos custodian Mark Schwarzer.

“He's an idol of mine, as is former Man United keeper Peter Schmeichel. I'm going to follow my dream and see where it takes me,” he said.

Just in case the kid from Mermaid Waters doesn't measure up in the bear pit of English football, he has a plan-B — a life in science.

He is studying bio-medical science at Griffith Uni because, as he puts it: “you need to have a back-up plan.”

“I've deferred my studies while I'm in England.” he added.

The duo are trying to become the first Australians to win contracts with Wednesday since Adem Poric — Total Football's head coach — blazed a trail to the Premier League with the club in the '90s before injury cut short his career.

David Lewis, Gold Coast Bulletin
8 December 2009

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