Tigers snap up marooned star
A TROUBLESOME injury, a holiday at home and a global health and economic crisis have somehow combined to deliver a FNQ Premier League club one of the most talented players to come from the region.
Joshua Pin’s trip home from England, where he plays for Didcot Town in the Southern League Division 1, was turned on its head thanks to the coronavirus pandemic. After emerging from a 14-day stint in self-isolation and with no word on when he’ll be able to return to the UK, the former FNQ Heat star has agreed to suit up for the defending FNQ Premier League champions.
A TROUBLESOME hip injury, a holiday at home and a global pandemic have combined to deliver Edge Hill United one of the most talented players to come from the region.
Joshua Pin’s trip home to Cairns from England last month was initially supposed to be a three-week holiday to visit friends and family before ramping up preparations for his next Southern League Division 1 season at Didcot Town.
Instead he landed and went straight into a 14-day stint in self-isolation, his return to the UK cancelled for at least the next few months with workplaces shut down and kick-off not for at least three months.
But there is a silver lining for the 22-year-old.
He’s been carrying an injury for the past few years, and four months into the 2019-20 season had to pull the pin.
“Our season started in August, and I got through about four months but I couldn’t play anymore,” Pin said.
He started rehab to address the issue, and if the pandemic hadn't occurred, he would’ve been alone in England going through the program.
But with the uncertainty surrounding how sport and international travel will be affected, and how long, he’s agreed to join some former teammates and friends at Edge Hill United for the upcoming FNQ Premier League season.
It will serve as an outlet for Pin to not only rehab his injury, but to regain confidence ahead of a potential return overseas as he tries to build a professional football career.
It didn’t take much for Pin to agree to join friend and former teammate Crios O’Hare at the Tigers.
“He was the first person I got in touch with – he already knew I was coming back – but it wasn’t difficult,” Pin said.
“I’ll be able to make some progress on the injury, and being able to play is a bonus.
“If I get back there I’ll be a few steps ahead of the others and where I would have been.
“You want to get that confidence up and I was happy to help out.”
Pin spent his formative years in the Far North, primarily at FNQ Heat, as a winger, but he’s developed and plays more as a striker.
It’s a decision O’Hare will make closer to kick-off, which the football community hopes will be in July, but for now he’s happy to have added another strike weapon to his arsenal.
“It’s really exciting for the club, and for me to have a player like Josh available,” he said.
“He’s only 22 but he's fairly experienced. It’s been a few years since he played here but he’s improved his game. He’d be a lot stronger physically and mentally now as well.”
Edge Hill United dominated last year’s Premier League, winning all three titles available.