Sport
12 January, 2023
Maryborough Soccer Club rising star Charlie Creasey set for big trip to England
Charlie Creasey is about to embark on the journey of his wildest dreams. The young Maryborough Soccer Club starlet has been selected as part of a small group to participate in the West Ham United Foundation UK Development Tour, a program set up by...
Charlie Creasey is about to embark on the journey of his wildest dreams.
The young Maryborough Soccer Club starlet has been selected as part of a small group to participate in the West Ham United Foundation UK Development Tour, a program set up by the George Cowie Football Academy.
The Hammers currently sit in 17th on the English Premier League table after a slow start to the season, suddenly finding themselves in a relegation battle with the likes of other storied teams such as Everton, Wolverhampton, Southampton and Nottingham Forest after making the semi-finals of the UEFA Europa League in 2022, but also boast a great Australian connection over the past 25 years, with Socceroos champions Stan Lazaridis, Robbie Slater and Lucas Neill names that have played for — and in Neill’s case, captained — the London-based team.
It’s that Australian connection which saw the club establish the George Cowie Academy in Queensland, which was named in honour of Cowie’s performances for the Hammers, which included their FA Cup victory in 1980 — which remains their last to this day.
Creasey’s selection came through his performances at the West Ham United Foundation National Camp, which was held in Southport, on the Gold Coast, in September. That camp took in skills and techniques, as well as football education and an 11 v 11 trial game.
With Creasey performing well in all aspects, he’ll now be departing for the United Kingdom on Tuesday, which will take in a full tour of England and Scotland, where he, along with other players who have been selected in the program, will have the opportunity to play games as a team against other talented groups, while also participating in coaching sessions within Premier League Academies, particularly within the Hammers’ setup.
Creasey is looking forward to getting to the UK and taking his football to the next level.
“It’s definitely a great experience and opportunity. I’m just looking forward to the chance to get out and do it,” he said.
“It’s a 10-day tour in the United Kingdom, where we’ll be watching games, participating in training with professional coaches, and playing games ourselves.”
While on the camp in Southport, Creasey took in plenty of lessons about how to prepare for games, while also receiving advice from coaches about how to refine his skillset.
“The coaches were really helpful in giving me advice and helping me improve my skillset, I had to take on a lot of their advice and adapt to all the situations,” he said.
“We had a couple of presentations on our dieting and getting prepared for matches, and also, it was a good way to see what the next level of football is like.
“Luckily I didn’t find much of the camp too hard, but the weather was quite warm.”
Creasey’s trip will also allow him to watch the stars of England up close, taking in a game where he will watch high-flying Manchester City — currently sitting second in the Premier League and boasting one of the most formidable attacking combinations on the planet, generated by the likes of Kevin De Bruyne, Ilkay Gündogan and Erling Haaland.
“We’ll also train with West Ham coaches, and we’ll also get a trip to Scotland to play some games there,” he said.
Regardless of what happens, the opportunity now opens doors for Creasey to take his football to the next level, having previously been able to train with National Premier League players throughout the season, while playing well in his 16 appearances for Maryborough this season in both defence and through the midfield.
“It’s very exciting. I’m hoping it will lead to more opportunities, and more pathways in a professional setting,” he said.
Perhaps one day, it could provide a pathway to see Creasey join the likes of Lazaridis, Slater and Neill as Australian representatives of West Ham.
