The dream of being able to play elite level football has been the goal for many young people. Whether they are inspired by the big names, glued to the screen watching Match of
The Day or whether it’s the local games with their small-town clubs that can prove equally inspiring. Whatever the story, every player, whether they play professional, semi-professional or amateur football has had their route into the sport.
The same can be said for Australian international professional footballer Bailey Wright, who grew up playing youth football in Australia before gaining a contract for Preston North End.
Bailey now plays in League One with Sunderland AFC as a defender though has had stints in the Championship with Preston North End and Bristol City. Bailey now studies at the University of East London while managing a professional playing career at Sunderland, who sit in contention for League one playoff promotion spot.
Youth Experience
Bailey first started playing youth football in Australia. “I was fortunate enough to live on the same road as my local soccer club where I grew up. My mum took me to my first training session at my local team, Langwarrin Soccer Club, which I still support now and enjoy it when I get the opportunity to go home and watch them when I can.
“I played for a number of clubs start off at Langwarrin and went to another local team, Mornington for one season. I started playing men’s football when I was 13 years old at Dandenong Thunder. I was fortunate to represent the Victorian state team at the age of 15”.
Playing In England And Moving To The EFL
Going forward in his playing career saw Bailey move from the Australian mainland to the United Kingdom after signing a contract with Preston North End. “I loved everything about England and I still do; it was always my dream to play professionally in England. The professional teams in Australia were just implementing a reserve league and I’ll be honest I think it would’ve cost me more to actually get to training if I’d been selected for those teams.
“If we can organise a trial at a good level for my age and get my foot in the door so I got the trial. I got a trial around Christmas in 2008 it was with Blackburn Rovers and Preston North End. Out of the two trials, Blackburn didn’t work out. [There were] a couple of gentlemen, Jamie Hoyland who was the youth team manager, Dean Ramsdale was the assistant youth team manager and Nick Harrison who was also one of the youth team managers. It was mainly Jamie who saw something in me and gave me a chance. I had an hour’s training session with Preston and they wanted to sign me.”
Balancing Football With A Degree
Bailey continues to play football at a professional level while studying at the University of East London and reflected on his education while maintaining a professional career.:
“Where I am now I look back on it and would tell me I wish I started earlier. I was playing because I think it’s good to have other interest outside of football as another focus. I’m studying for an MSc in Sports Directorship I know a football carrier is short and whatever I do next I’m one of those people who like to be busy whenever my playing career ends I want to transition into the next chapter of my journey.
“In terms of the balancing side of things its difficult obviously it’s family first, football second and studying third. It’s difficult, but not something that can’t be done if you manage your time properly. I enjoy it and if your passionate and enjoying learning then it’s a lot easier to go your own path and dig deep into things”.
The World Cup
The pinnacle of an athlete’s playing career is being selected to represent your country on the world stage and for Bailey, this was a reality after being selected for the 2014 Brazil World Cup:
“It was quite unexpected for myself, I’ve not been called up for the National team before knew I was in with a slight chance when I was originally called in 30 men’s squad and thought ‘this is my foot in the door and see what comes of it and I didn’t expect to go to the World Cup but fortunately the way it worked.
“That experience in the World Cup in Brazil, the home of football, was just incredible. I’ll be able to experience and something that made me hungry for more and has inspired me to go on and take my career onwards. Since then I’ve come out a lot more caps and still have ambitions of going to the World Cup and actually playing and being part of something special for Australian football”.
