‘DREAMS do come true.’
Brian Oliver, the Jersey FA Football Development Manager, was full of excitement after watching his former Centre of Excellence pupil Luke Harris make his Premier League debut.
From 11 to 13 years old, Harris trained with the centre under the watchful eyes of Oliver and Paul Renton, the centre manager, with weekends spent jetting to Fulham’s Academy.
It was naturally, then, a proud moment for Oliver to see Harris come on as a late substitute in Fulham’s 3-0 home win over Aston Villa on Thursday night.
‘It’s fantastic – for him and for Jersey football,’ said Oliver. ‘He’s done amazingly well in such a short time and overcome so many challenges to progress as well.’
Harris eventually relocated to London full-time, leaving his family behind in St Clement, a daunting prospect for any 14-year-old kid from the Island. But the former St Clement and Le Rocquier pupil was determined to make it and the sacrifices are paying off.
Such is his talent, he has already been linked with a £35million move to Chelsea before he has even played a minute of senior football in the Premier League.
‘A natural footballer,’ Oliver added.
‘We did a little bit to add on to the work already done with his local football clubs and his schools.
‘He’s just a smashing kid. He comes from a lovely family and he just epitomises everything you want to see in a football player.’
Jason Pierre was briefly his coach at St Clement U12s for whom Harris made sporadic appearances inbetween turning out at Fulham academy sides. He recalls a player ‘who just wanted to enjoy the game’.
Pierre added: ‘He was full of energy. He only had a small stature but he was all-action and showed so much enthusiasm and work-rate.
‘He was very skilful and showed a great attitude that rubbed off on all his team-mates. He always wanted to do his best for the team.’
Harris, who was called up to the Wales national squad last month, was spotted by Malcolm Elias, the chief scout for Fulham (or head of talent ID and recruitment to give him his formal title) playing for Jersey Primary Schools at the annual Easter Primary Schools festival in Jersey and Oliver praised the special relationship the JFA have with him and the club.
‘We’ve got a very close relationship with Malcolm Elias. We are so fortunate to have links with him and Fulham Football Club,’ said Oliver.
‘They took a chance with Luke. They invested a lot of time and resources working with him and his parents and look where he is now.
‘Malcolm has a rich history of recruiting top players and he’s done it again.’
When he was at Southampton, he helped recruit players such as Gareth Bale, Luke Shaw and James Ward-Prowse. He spotted Theo Walcott at the same Primary Schools Festival. And not only has he brought Harris to Fulham from the Island, he recruited Marlon Fossey (now at Belgium club Standard Liege), Callum Osmond and Luca Picotto.
‘We’re delighted he shows an interest in Jersey footballers,’ added Oliver.
‘Our relationship is key to be able to give Jersey players an opportunity and look what it’s led to.’
