Midfielder on captaining Huddersfield Town’s Under-19s
- Ben Jackson discusses wearing the Captain’s armband
- Young Terrier enjoying his development with Town’s Academy
- Under-19s host Sheffield Wednesday on Wednesday afternoon
Huddersfield Town B Team midfielder Ben Jackson has enjoyed stepping into a leadership role by captaining the Under-19 side recently.
The Young Terrier captained the Under-19s in their 3-1 victory over Salford City, and managed to bag an assist in the process!
Jackson discussed how much he’s enjoyed getting the opportunity to be a leader.
“As one of the older players in the Under-19s and the B Team games you have to be louder and more vocal.
“Some of the younger lads are definitely quieter – I know that I was like that when I was their age – so it’s really important that I can do that job well and that I can help them out.
“I’m not negative on any mistakes, I just encourage them to keep going and I’ve really enjoyed it.
“There’s a lot of talent on the pitch, when I was that age there’s no way I had that amount of talent!
“The technical ability that some of them have got, the physical ability, it just shows a lot of good players coming through and I think it’s quite exciting.”
The youngster was originally a left-back but made the switch to central midfielder just before he made his First Team debut against Rochdale in September 2020. He highlighted to htafc.com how proud he was to make his debut.
“It was quite surreal. Initially at the start of the season I wasn’t in and around the First Team, and then when I did start training with them, I was told I’d learning a new position.
“My first pre-season game against Bradford was the first time I’d ever played in centre midfield, so for me to be given the opportunity to play in the first competitive game of the season against Rochdale was a massive boost for my confidence.
“It’s meant that I feel so much better as a player now, I’m ready to embrace it all.”
The youngster was also quick to comment on how training with the First Team as part of the B Team setup has benefitted his development.
“I think the fact that we’re working with the First Team more means that we have to hit the levels every day.
“Sometimes when you’re in and out of training with them you can dip a bit, but being consistently with them you get a taste of it and you want more, so your intensity is always at a higher level, you want to be better than the other players there and get a spot in the team.
“Since changing into a midfield role, my main focus has been receiving the ball in a 360 degree rather than a 180.
“I’ve also been focusing on being more aggressive and making an impact up and down the pitch, so getting goals and assists and helping to set up goals.”
Jackson also took the time to review how far he’s come in the last year.
“I think I’m more sensible on the pitch, more mature.
“I’m better at decision making and starting to become more of a man on the pitch, a bit more aggressive and a bit more vocal.
“I’m getting used to playing men’s football rather than youth football because that’s the next step for me.”
Ben and his U19 teammates will be back in action on Wednesday afternoon, when they host Sheffield Wednesday, you can follow live tweets on Town’s Academy Twitter; @htafcacademy.
