Young Casey Johnson makes a break through, sealing a one-year deal with Ebbsfleet United.

What is the dream for many young people? To be a footballer. That is usually the main answer. With the goals of many to be playing in the Premiership one day, only 1% of talented individuals ever seem to make it.  However, every footballer must start somewhere.

Casey Johnson, 16, is one example of a hard-working, dedicated, talented teenager with a passion for football. After playing for the youth section of local Conference South club ‘Ebbsfleet United’ for 4 years, Casey went on to join their academy for the start of the 2014/15 season, just after completing the treble in the season before. The new set up of the academy was sure to provide the likes of Casey with amazing opportunities over a two-year scholarship.

Just recently, Casey has obtained his first contract, signing a one-year deal for Ebbsfleet United in the Conference South. The 16 year old said, “I couldn’t believe it…I feel like I have made myself proud after all the hard work”.

Just last year Casey was studying for his GCSEs, hoping to obtain good grades to help him go further on in life, and now he is getting ready to start a career in football.

“I just can’t wait to start playing for the first team” he said.

The 16-year-old started his passion for football playing for local club ‘Northfleet Eagles’, where he was a successful goal scorer, scoring 100 goals in 3 seasons – not to mention playing midfield rather than his preferred position of striker. As the years progressed, the teenager’s skills improved, and he was successful enough to be selected for the Ebbsfleet Under 13’s squad. After spending 4 successful years here, Casey won several trophies, 4 in his final year of the youth section of the club. One of these was the Golden Boot, were he scored 28 goals, 4 more than anyone else in the Kent Youth League that season.

The success does not stop here for Casey however, as he was talented enough to represent his county, playing in both Kent FA and Kent Schools teams. These required long journeys, tough matches, hard work, and he says, “they have helped to make me the player I am today”.

Within his youth career, Casey’s goal scoring attribute was clearly identifiable by many professional clubs. The likes of Millwall, Crystal Palace, West Ham, and Reading all fought for the young boy for trials, clearly showing that he is a player for the future.

One young Ebbsfleet United fan said, “I always think about how much fun it must be to play football for a living, especially at the PHB Stadium, where the atmosphere is always great.”

To think that many young teenagers would love to be in the current position that Casey is in should fill him with pride. Nevertheless, he realises that “the hard work does not stop now” as his determination in sealing more and more deals in the near future keeps him on his toes.

Many people who know Casey have said, “It’s really great news. To see him signing on the pitch already after not even one season at the academy is a big achievement. It’s even better because he deserves it.”

It has been said that the one-year deal does possibly involve a loan deal with another club, but in many ways, this provides Casey with a chance to “grow as a player, and return to the Fleet bigger and better than when he left” says a close friend of his.

With many other talented individuals within the academy squad, it can only be a matter of time before more, new, younger faces are seen signing papers on the dotted line. Who will be next?

 

Max Taylor

Gravesend Grammar School