Newcastle goalkeeper Neil Young is looking forward to proving a point to some old mates when the Jets travel to his hometown of Perth for their Round 20 Hyundai A-League match against the Glory on Boxing Day.
Young played for 14 seasons in Western Australia before trying his luck in Victoria with the Melbourne Knights where he was picked up earlier this year by the Jets as a back-up to Newcastle custodian Ben Kennedy.
When Kennedy was injured six weeks ago Young got his chance and a string of solid performances, which has coincided with the Jets fine run of form, has kept the 30-year-old shot-stopper in Newcastle’s run-on team.
So while the rest of the Jets team is dreading missing out on Christmas day for the match against the Glory, Young said he excited about getting back home.
“I am pretty cuffed about it because I will get to see my family,” he said. “I will leave Thursday and then meet these boys on Christmas night.”
“It is something I really wanted to do and the game I really wanted to play. And there are some people I would really like to play in front of and prove a point to basically.”
One of the main people Young wants to impress is Perth coach Dave Mitchell.
Young explained that he approached the Glory seeking a contract when the team was coach by Ron Smith back in the 2006/07 season. Mitchell, who was Smith’s assistant coach at that stage, gave Young just one training session before saying he wasn’t good enough.
“I wasn’t that liked in Perth by some people and they put me down and I want to prove them wrong,” Young said.
“Dave Mitchell gave me one training session – he is a nice guy. That is about as good as I can go with that because I felt he never really gave me a chance.”
“I played for the same club for 14 seasons – Sorrento in the State League. I had some trials with some A-League clubs and overseas but nothing ever came of it.”
“I played for WA and nothing really came of it because the State League doesn’t really get much notice. The club stuck by me but I thought it was time to move on and I am glad I did.”
Young, who has recovered from compressed fracture to a finger he suffered in last week’s win over North Queensland Fury, now goes back to Perth as one of the form goalkeepers in the A-League and playing in a team that has racked up four wins on the trot.
“If we keep the run going there is no telling where we could end up,” Young said. “And it would be good to win in Perth, I don’t think anyone has done it this year and to make it five in a row would be great as well.”
“I am sure there will be a few boys from Sorrento at the match and Scott Neville’s dad was my coach, and I have known Scotty since he was about seven years old. A lot of my family will be there – my sister will be there and some other members of my family, so it is going to be a big day.”
