Whakatāne's Jamie Searle makes Football League debut for Barnsley
The former Tauranga City AFC and Whakatāne Town youngster came on as a substitute against Cambridge United in a League One clash over the weekend.
Whakatāne footballer Jamie Searle enjoyed a memorable weekend in the United Kingdom, as he made his Football League debut for his current club Barnsley.
The goalkeeper, who played youth football at Bay of Plenty clubs Tauranga City AFC and Whakatāne Town, came off the bench 59 minutes into his side’s 3-0 win over Cambridge United in a League One fixture on Saturday, September 17.
He entered the field after his fellow stopper Brad Collins was injured and with regular back-up Jack Walton also ruled out the usually third-choice Kiwi stepped up.
While admitting it was the ideal way to make his debut for the Tykes, Searle was clearly over the moon at reaching such a significant milestone.
“It's not the way I wanted to make my debut, but it's happened and you've just got to get on with it,” the 21-year-old told the official Barnsley website.
"It's hard when you're sitting on the bench. You do switch off a little bit, but you're still engaged in the game, watching what is happening, how they're playing.
"As soon as something like that happens you don't really get time to think, which is the main thing. You're just thrown in at the deep end which is what I prefer. I don't think. When I don't think, I seem to do better."
Searle left New Zealand, and a job building caravans, for England in 2018. After successful trials, he had previous spells with one-time European Cup winners Aston Villa and 2012-13 League Cup winners Swansea City. After leaving South Wales in the British summer, he found his way to South Yorkshire to join the newly relegated Barnsley.
After finally getting the chance to play for his first-team he is clearly happy to have got his chance.
"I'm enjoying it," said Searle. "The players are all good, they're all a similar age so we all get on well. We're all hard-working, we all want to win and essentially do what's best for us and the Club.”
His manager Mads Andersen was also happy with the way Jamie handled such an abrupt thrust into his first-team action.
"He did very well,” the Danish coach told the Barnsley site. “It's not an easy situation to come into. So yes, I'm happy for him.”
Jamie, who made his international debut for New Zealand in a 7-1 FIFA World Cup qualifying win against New Caledonia in March, will now be on standby to start Barnsley’s next game, a Football League Trophy clash with Newcastle United U-21s in midweek.