Subiaco-born Jordan Rhodes is one of a brigade of West Australian youngsters that have headed abroad while still in their teens in an effort to seek out a professional career in football. Currently in the academy set-up at Premier League club Charlton, Rhodes took the time recently to respond to some questions posed by Brett Klucznik how he got to where he is today

Could you give us a bit of background information on Jordan Rhodes - how long have you been playing football, who you played for locally as a junior, that sort of thing?
From a young age I was brought up kicking a football due largely to my dads influence, he played for local clubs in Western Australia and always took me to his games. I already had a big interest in football when my dad enrolled me at our local club, Mandurah City, where he was involved as a player and a coach. Mandurah is a country town which is about 75 kilometres south of Perth. I started playing for my school in the local league and also for Mandurah, in the Junior Soccer Association of W.A. leagues where I always played above my age group. My favoured position is in the centre of midfield, although I have also had a few games as centre forward. I represented Mandurah at Country Week and for two years running we won the Under-12 State Championship. In 1996 I was lucky enough to score the winning goal (in extra-time) in the State Championship Final. I also represented Country Western Australia in a tournament in Adelaide in 1997.

At 13 I was approached by Kingsway Hammers (the West Ham Academy in Perth at the time) to play for them. This involved a huge commitment from my family as I had to travel three times a week to Perth for training and games but, thankfully, my family thought the positives would outweigh the negatives. I played and trained with a good group of players and was again selected to play a year above my age group in the Premier Division. A year later the programme changed from Kingsway Hammers to E.C.U. Joondalup Saints, when Southampton took over the program, which meant an even bigger commitment from my family as Joondalup is a 100 kilometre round trip from Mandurah and required three to four trips per week! The coaches and players were both excellent at the club and I spent a season playing Under-16's and half a season playing Under-18 football.

And last year things really took off for you. You continued with Joondalup and were selected to play for W.A. at the Nationals, which meant an even bigger commitment from you and your parents ...
I represented Western Australia in the Under-15 National Championship in Sydney, which I consider to be the biggest honour I have so far had in Australia. It meant, however, that from January to July in 2000 I was travelling to Perth five or six times per week, to train and play for the Saints side and the State team. I was leaving home for training on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday at 3.30pm and getting back home between 9.00pm and 10.00pm. My parents were fully behind things however ... as long as my schoolwork, homework and grades did not suffer. Mum and Dad also helped me out with my time management skills.

So did you head off to England after the Nationals for trials?
When I was 11 years old (1997) I went for a holiday in England and my Dad organised for me to train with Charlton Athletic. I played one game for them, against Crystal Palace, we won 4-2 and I scored! So they were impressed and kept my profile on their books. Two years later I returned to England for two months with my Dad and again I trained with Charlton, as well as with West Ham. I had two games for Charlton, one against Arsenal which we won 1-0 - I scored the winner! - and not long after they expressed a desire to sign me. Last year our family made the decision to return to England for more than a holiday. My Dad is English but has lived in Western Australia for seventeen years and he wanted to spend some time with his sisters, nephews and nieces and suggested the family go on a "working holiday" to London. When we finally decided that yes, we were going, I was both excited and frightened ... I really wanted to go but I had the feeling that I was dragging the rest of my family from their home to a foreign country.

Who were your heroes in the game when you were growing up, and who are the players you admire the most these days?
My footballing hero as a junior was Bryan Robson, the former England and Manchester United midfielder who is currently managing Middlesborough. I have two footballers that really inspire me now - the first is David Beckham because he is the greatest passer, crosser and free-kick specialist in the world. The other is Harry Kewell because I love his confidence, dribbling skills and the fact that he is an Australian.

You're now part of the youth set-up at Charlton. Take us through a typical week ...
I'm in the academy Under-15 squad, although I also play for the Under-16's. We train three times a week and play every Sunday. On Monday we train from 6.30 to 8.30 on astroturf and under lights - and it's the same routine on Wednesday. Saturday's we train at a different venue on real grass, mostly it's tactical stuff and the way we'll be playing the next day's game. We play on Sunday morning. If it's away we all meet up and take the team coach and we play thirds or even quarters depending on the coaches preference. In between all that I go to school and have a normal school life. On non-training nights I do weights at my Auntie's house, she has some good equipment in her garage, as weight sessions aren't provided by the club for my age group.

How have you found it adjusting to a new climate and way of life in the U.K.? Do you feel you - or your family - have had to sacrifice a lot to get where you are today?
The change of lifestyle and weather is huge but you get used to it and it becomes normal after a while. Personally, I've sacrificed a lot of time which means not having a big social life. And travelling to Perth three times a week was a pretty big sacrifice for me and my family, both in time and financial terms. This move to England means that we have given up our good, stable lifestyle in Australia for London's cold weather, smaller houses, greater living expenses as well as having to start out at new schools again. My sisters watch me play and put up with me always kicking a football, even in the house, they're also very good at sport and my parents have to juggle their time to make sure we are all treated fairly. My parents have sacrificed a lot in terms of friends and family also.

What about on the flip side of the coin. There must be a stack of benefits that you're experiencing by playing in the U.K. and being in the middle of one of the world's best Leagues?
Absolutely. On the up-side the coaching is more intense and technical, but there is the constant pressure to perform as your place is never secure, which makes you determined every week to succeed.

How does the set-up at Charlton compare with what you experienced in Perth?
The facilities are much better ... there is astroturf for training and the game pitches are always really nice. It's also a really good feeling putting on the proper Charlton kit and going to play another team like the Arsenal, Spurs or West Ham academy. It makes you try even harder. There is a constant eye on you and you have a head start if you are already in their set-up which is much more professional than anything in Perth - they even supply bananas and drinks after the game! All this makes you want to achieve more and develop to be a better player. I'm aiming for the top and realise that I'm going to have to work really hard to get there.

How have the academy side been performing this season? And what about yourself, how is your development as a player coming along?
I'm currently playing in the Under-15/16 Academy side and are a regular starter for them. I'm progressing really well through the technical training provided. My confidence is better and I have gained more knowledge and more attributes which I've added to my game. I've also gained a great deal of experience by playing against good opponents on a regular basis. Thankfully I've had no major set-backs or injury's and hope I won't have any in the near-future.

What have been the highlights of your time to date with Charlton?
The biggest highlight so far was the pre-season Northern Ireland Milk Cup tournament which is one of the most prestigious Youth Tournaments in the World. Kids came up to us after the game and asked for autographs, and there was major interest and support from the public. There were about 10,000 people at the final when we beat Manchester City on penalties - even though I spent a lot of time on the bench (because I'm younger than the other players) it was still the greatest feeling I have had so early in my footballing career.

You're obviously happy playing with Charlton for the time being ... where do you see yourself going from here?
I am really happy at Charlton, all the coaches are good and everything is well organised. The club are helpful and friendly, my team-mates are also very friendly and our team bonds really well. The club gives us their views and encourage us through half season progress reports, and I hope to establish myself as a "must have" academy member and then gain a three year Y.T.S contract. I then want to establish myself as a regular member of the Under-17/19 academy sides and gain a professional contract. My ultimate goal is to play regularly in an English Premiership team and also one day to represent Australia at a World Cup.

Thanks for your time Jordan and all the best with making it to the highest level at Charlton. Maybe one day we'll see you back in Australia playing for the national side?
You never know your luck, maybe one day ... Copyright Brett Klucznik, 2001. No part of this article may be reproduced without the prior content of it's author, Brett Klucznik (bklucznik@iprimus.com.au). Doing so would be a violation of copyright laws and regulations.

Copyright Brett Klucznik, 2001. No part of this article may be reproduced without the prior content of it's author, Brett Klucznik (bklucznik@iprimus.com.au). Doing so would be a violation of copyright laws and regulations.