CLARK BIDES TIME
Toowoomba talent on life in A-League
Toowoomba goalkeeper Pierce Clark is learning that a spot in the Newcastle Jets’ first team is both a blessing and a curse.
After making the move to the A-League club in the pre-season, Clark benefited from some unfortunate circumstances.
An injury to the Jets first team keeper saw the former South-West Thunder gloveman bumped up the pecking order, though he is finding game time hard to come by as a result.
“This season has been good but there hasn’t been an awful lot of chances for me to play,” he said.
As the second choice keeper, Clark is required on A-League match-days to sit on the bench which essentially rules him out of getting minutes between the sticks with the youth team.
“It is tough because a lot of the time the games overlap and if we are travelling it is hard to get back for the youth games where they can slot me in to actually play,” he said.
“When the opportunity comes up the club is keen to let me play games but unfortunately that doesn’t always happen.”
The 18-year-old is still relishing the opportunities at the highest level, admitting to soaking up his surroundings like a sponge.
Just 12 months ago, Clark embarked on a whirlwind journey across Europe that saw him sign for fourth-tier German side SV Elversberg before trialling with the English Premier League’s Crystal Palace and Queens Park Rangers.
But the call to come and play back home enticed the teenager to once again pack his bags.
After signing with the Jets in August his European adventure was over, but a challenge awaited him in the first team at Newcastle.
“I have been on the bench a fair bit this season but it’s great because I am learning a lot about professional football in Australia,” Clark said.
“I’m learning a lot from the older players because I didn’t expect to be so involved at the beginning of the season.”