Kentish Gazette Canterbury & District
Jordan, 18, living his football dream
Goalkeeper signs pro contract with Millwall
A former city schoolboy has bagged a professional football contract with a Championship club aged just 18. Talented goalkeeper Jordan Gillmore, who studied at Canterbury Academy, has been signed by Millwall FC. Jordan left the school in 2019 having earned a place in the London club’s academy set-up. He previously had a year-long spell at Chelsea, so has spent hundreds of hours travelling to and from training and matches. But the hard work has paid off after he was offered a professional contract with Millwall this month.
He says he has been in between the sticks since managers at his former youth team, Sturry Kings FC, told him that was his best position. He added: “I played a one-off tournament for my friend’s team and I got scouted there and that’s when I moved to Chelsea for a year on trial when I was 13, but I didn’t get in.
“I went to Millwall when I was 14 and I’ve stayed there for four years now.”
Jordan’s family and teachers are incredibly proud of what he has achieved, given how difficult it is for young players to make it onto a club’s playing staff.
“This year I have been with the first team a little and had experiences with them,” he said. “Obviously next year I want to be more involved with them and hopefully play league games later on in my career.” Jordan says his idol in the sport is Manchester United goalkeeper Dean Henderson, who is 24.
“He went on loan to Sheffield and had an unbelievable season,” he said.
“He came back to Manchester United and pushed [David] de Gea out of his position, which is a big thing as it shows there is a pathway in football for young goalkeepers.”
Jordan says one of the highlights of his blossoming career so far has been reaching the quarter finals of the FA Youth Club with Millwall last year. Although he did not get a chance to play, he really enjoyed going to Stamford Bridge and also got the chance to train with the first team.
Offering advice to young goalkeepers, he said: “You have just got to jump straight into the deep end with it and be able to put yourself in positions not everyone wants to be in.
“If you like being a goalkeeper, you’re made to be one and you’ve got to enjoy that someone wants to score against you all the time.”
Jordan praised his teachers at the Canterbury Academy for their support throughout his time there.
“If I had gone to any other school, I don’t think I would have passed any of my GCSES as they put in so much time while I was playing football and also learning,” he said.
‘If you like being a goalkeeper, you’re made to be one’