Downes' England career chase

JULIUS ROSS | July 05, 2011 12.01am

SOUTH Hobart's Greg Downes played his last game for the club on Sunday, as he prepares to travel to England in search of a professional contract for the second time.

Downes, 18, joined Whitley Bay FC in England's Northern League Division One for a brief period, before poor weather forced him home.

"In England, I thought I performed pretty well but unfortunately for me the weather took a bad turn and it started snowing," Downes said.

"Obviously, you can't play on snow, so I made the decision to come home to continue to get game time with South this season."

Downes has also had trials with Football League One side Hartlepool United and Conference National League's Darlington and spent six weeks in Korea with second division side Mokpo City last September.

This time around, Downes will be seeking a contract through the International Football Scouting Centre.

"I've found myself a 10-week program with IFSC, the head coach is Billy Stewart who used to be the Liverpool goalkeeping coach when they won the European Champions League [in 2005]," Downes said.

"It will be like an academy situation, where there will be 15-16 quality players.

"I've heard the level is going to be high, which means we will be playing against higher opposition such as English Premier League reserves sides.

"I'm going on a one-way [ticket] so I'll be going indefinitely this time."

Downes is confident his preparation and previous trials will see him in good stead for his latest challenge.

"When I went to Korea, that was an amazing experience, it was a different style of play and I learned quite a lot," Downes said.

Downes has been a regular starter for South since his return and has played an integral part in helping the league leader to its current position atop of the southern Premier League table.

http://www.themercury.com.au/article/2011/07/05/243191_soccer.html