Weipa Town Authority Chair Jaime Gane provides some financial support for 14-year-old Jack King ahead of his departure to Spain to flex his soccer skill on the international stage. Photo: Supplied.
A journey that began with the inadvertent purchase of a soccer ball has taken an international leap for one Weipa sporting star.
Jack King, 14, has his ticket booked for Spain after receiving an invitation to attend a three-month training camp with high-profile professional club Celta de Vigo on the back of a standout effort at a Sydney trial in November 2024.
Before departing for Europe, he told Cape York Weekly he was champing at the bit to develop his skills and show off his natural talent on the international stage.
“This opportunity means I get to test my skills against European players and train in a unique setting,” he said.
“I’m most looking forward to seeing the new sights in Dubai and Madrid.”
King said his meteoric rise in the sport, which only kicked off five years ago, had been aided by some local soccer talent.
“I’ve spent time training with Hector Martinez from the Bondi Football Academy – a lot of beach and field work,” he explained.
“Also stints with Archie (Thomas) and his father, Jamie, at indoor soccer here in Weipa, and with the Jamie Gosling Football Academy in Cairns.”
King’s proud father, Paul, said his son’s sporting journey could have taken a completely different path had he been able to find the gift he was actually looking for five years ago.
“I went into the shop here to get him a rugby ball and they didn’t have one, and I thought ‘I can’t go home with nothing’, so I ended up taking a soccer ball home and that was it,” Mr King reflected.
“It was his total focus, even at nine; he’s already got this wonderful skillset and it’s just going to fill out now.
“We’ve travelled everywhere with his game and this opportunity’s arisen, and I said I was coming with him and he said ‘no, I’ve got this.’”
The rising soccer star has received support form Embley Contracting and Weipa Town Authority (WTA) to chase his on-field dream, and WTA Chair Jaime Gane said she was thrilled the organisation was able to offer a $1,000 through a discretionary trust.
“I think it’s incredibly exciting – I’m pumped for him,” she laughed.
“It seems like a pretty big deal … he could pick which club he wanted to go to, and he’s chosen this one in Spain.
“This definitely deserved the support – it’s a huge opportunity for a kid from Weipa.”
Weipa’s Jack King, 14, is ready to take the soccer world by storm ahead of a three-month training stint with Spanish club Celta de Vigo. Photo: Supplied.
