Lysterfield to Celtic: success eclipses the lowsBY ROY WARD
20 Jun, 2011 12:00 AM
PROFESSIONAL soccer is filled with glorious highs and terrible lows.
In one year with Scottish Premier League giant Celtic, teenager Jackson Irvine has experienced both feelings but he has learnt the moments of glory more than compensate for the down times.
The 18-year old Lysterfield resident overcame a serious ankle injury to establish himself with Celtic's under-19 side as it won the Scottish double, claiming the league championship, then beating storied rival Rangers 2-1 in extra time to win the under-19 Scottish FA Cup in front of 10,000 people at Hampden Park, Scotland's national stadium.
The central midfielder started 12 of the last 15 games and played all 120 minutes of the cup final which the Bhoys won with a goal late in extra time.
"It was extraordinary – I've never felt anything like it," Irvine said. "There was probably two minutes left when we scored. After that it was just chaos, there were wild celebrations."
The under-19s' success earned them a half-time lap of honour during one of the senior team's late season matches at Celtic Park.
"It's indescribable to hear 60,000-odd people cheering for you," he said. "I was thinking 'I could get used to this'."
Irvine has one year to run on his youth team contract and will again play for the Bhoys under-19 team next season.
Celtic's success has also earned it entry to the newly minted UEFA under-19 Champions League, known as the NextGen Series, which will put leading European club youth teams against each other under a format similar to the senior Champions League.
The finer details of the tournament are still being finalised but pools for the group stage have been announced with Celtic to face Manchester City, Marseille and Barcelona.
The clubs are expected to play their matches on their senior grounds and Irvine is salivating at the prospect of representing Celtic on storied grounds such as Celtic Park and Barcelona's Nou Camp.
"It would be a long way from playing at Langwarrin or Knox City," he said. "We played Liverpool at Celtic Park last season and won 3-0. Playing at the Nou Camp would be beyond extraordinary but they haven't confirmed that yet."
Irvine is still amazed at the circumstances that helped him make his way to the Bhoys.
In 2009 Irvine spent the season with State League club Frankston Pines under coach Tommy O'Halloran.
Irvine planned to visit his sister in Scotland and when he told his coach he was going over, O'Halloran rang his cousin, who is a junior coach at Celtic, and organised a trial.
What was meant to be an experience-building exercise became serious when Irvine impressed the Celtic coaches, who invited him back over for a formal trial last year, which led to a youth contract offer.
"It all fell into place," Irvine said. "I just got lucky. Sometimes I just have to pinch myself because I'm playing with one of the biggest clubs in the world – it doesn't seem real."
Adjusting to life in Glasgow has been rather easy for Irvine, whose father is from Aberdeen, although Irvine's success has forced his dad to move his allegiance from the Dons to the Bhoys.
"It's not as different as I expected. It's a lot like Melbourne, just everything seems a little smaller."
While Irvine has plenty to laugh about now, his first six months were nothing short of horrific.
First his international clearance was held up by international red tape, then he suffered a serious ankle injury, leaving him to adjust to his new country while also rehabilitating his injury.
He only got to take the field for the club after Christmas last year.
"It was a pretty disastrous first six months. It was hard for me and hard for mum and dad back home because they knew I was miserable.
"But the team went to Turkey for a training camp after Christmas and from there I got myself fit and then worked my way back into the team."
While Irvine has established himself in the under-19 team, he is far from securing a senior contract with the Bhoys and could end up at a different club after his contract expires at the end of next season.
"I'm working with some of the best coaches in Europe and you have to take it for all it's worth.
"But it's such a hard club to get a contract with. There are 25 first-team players and more out on loan. I love the club and want to stay but if not I want to stay in Europe."
After a junior career with Knox City, Endeavour United and the Pines, Irvine will never forget the adventures he has had playing with the Bhoys.
"I reckon Celtic an easy club to follow, there is so much passion from the supporters, no half-heartedness. The passion you see at first-team games is beyond anything you could ever see."
Irvine is making the most of his time at home in Melbourne and has met up with as many friends and family as he can.
He won't be back for some time, even when Celtic plays in Melbourne next month, as the under-19 team will be training back in Glasgow.
One thing all his friends have picked up on is the Glaswegian tinge in his accent. "When you are talking with Scotsmen all day and night it's hard not to pick it up. You should hear how I sound when I am over there - it gets much worse."