Symes scores at Wanderers

PROMISING Townsville goalkeeper Matthew Symes looks back at how far he’s come in the last 12 months and doesn’t recognise the player he used to be.

The 19- year- old shotstopper ( pictured) took a leap of faith in moving to Sydney last year to pursue his footballing dreams and his determination has been rewarded with a contract for the Western Sydney Wanderers’ National Youth League team.

He's hoping to make his debut for the club in next month’s season opener against the Newcastle Jets, where he could be facing former Fury teammate Braedyn Crowley.

Symes made the move south last year to spend some time training with the Sydney FC youth squad, and did enough to impress goalkeeper coaches Zeljko Kalac and Davide Del Giovine.

That experience, coupled with an impressive campaign with NPL side Hakoah Sydney City, was enough to see him secure a deal with the Wanderers youth setup when the coaching duo went west.

“I wasn’t contracted to Sydney FC, was just in the squad there so it was a bit of a leap of faith going down there without a contract,” he said.

“I found some accommodation, got a job and was able to go up and train with the first team coaches and then went on to play in the NPL before this opportunity came up at the Wanderers.

“I went down there, had a few weeks training with the first team and I was fortunate enough to get an NYL contract with them from that.”

Symes’ senior playing career began as a member of his hometown club the Northern Fury in the NPL Queensland, and his former coach Ian Ferguson said Symes has all the tools to reach the next level.

“Matty has obviously got something in him that the coach likes,” he said.

“The Wanderers don’t just pick anybody so it’s great to see him get an opportunity.’’

The Ignatius Park College graduate realises that there is still along road ahead if he is to succeed.

“Just because I have a contract doesn’t mean I can stop working hard,” he said.

The National Youth League season kicks off on November 7.