Jacob Chapman settling in well in England and at Huddersfield Town
- Jacob Chapman on making the move to England from Australia
- Young Terrier details his motivation to impress Jan Siewert
- U19s in action against Sheffield Wednesday on Friday 26 April 2019; 2pm kick-off
Huddersfield Town Under-19 goalkeeper Jacob Chapman is settling in well since making the move from Australia and admits that he wants to keep improving in order to impress the First Team hierarchy.
The youngster initially joined Town on trial in December 2018 before signing a one-and-a-half-year contract with the Club on 31 January 2019.
Chapman, who was born in Wahroonga (New South Wales, Australia), admits that the training is different in England but coming over here helps him in achieving his dream of making it as a professional footballer.
“The football in England is probably the best in the world and obviously the Premier League is probably the best league in the world.
“My dream is to make it as a footballer, so it benefited me coming over here.
“The training is definitely different in terms of the intensity and the quality, and that’s the same with both the Academy and the First Team. It’s definitely better and the facilities here are very good as well.”
The 18-year-old’s last club in Australia was Marconi Stallions, and he was keen to stress how good everybody at Huddersfield Town has been with him since he arrived.
“The other lads have been really good; I was a bit scared coming here and not knowing anybody, but I’ve fitted in really well and the lads and the coaching staff have been really nice with me as well.
“Everybody at the Club who I have spoken to has been really nice, so it’s been good for me.”
Chapman has started in goal for the last two Under-19s fixtures and the goalkeeper is enjoying playing games which he feels is the best way for him to improve.
“Playing games is the main thing and you can improve the most during games and for the experience as well. I’ve found that in training we work on a lot of different things, but it doesn’t really count for anything unless you do it during the games.
“Starting games is when you can improve the most so starting the last two games has been good and I just have to keep going.”
The Under-19s recently travelled to Poland to face Miedź Legnica and the whole experience of the trip was something that Chapman particularly enjoyed.
“I found the trip really nice and the hotel was really good; to train and get away to somewhere different was good and it was really nice.
“The facilities over there were really good and allowed us to continue our recovery after the game.
“We probably didn’t play as well as we wanted but we still got the 1-1 draw, so it proves just how good we are.”
Jan Siewert has handed First Team debuts to Demeaco Duhaney, Aaron Rowe and Matty Daly since his appointment in January 2018, and Chapman admits that his motivation is to impress the Head Coach and the rest of the First Team hierarchy.
“It’s definitely motivation. The Head Coach clearly likes to give younger players a chance and I use that as motivation.
“When you get a chance with the First Team, you have to do the best you can and go from there, that’s all I can do.
“Obviously I want to be in England for as long as I can; my aim is to earn a new contract when the current one ends but all I can do is keep training and playing as well as I can do.”
Chapman and Town’s Under-19s are back in action on Friday 26 April 2019.
The Young Terriers will face Sheffield Wednesday at PPG Canalside in a 2pm kick-off and supporters can attend the game.
