Jack: It’s an amazing feeling to sign for Morton
New signing Jack Iredale says it was an amazing feeling to sign for Morton after taking a gamble by leaving Australia in search of a professional contract in Europe.
When asked how it felt to sign for the club, Jack beamed:
“It’s an amazing feeling to finally find something that I’m really happy with. I’m really looking forward to getting started here; I just can’t wait.
“Growing up in Australia, there’s only 10 professional clubs in the top league there and it was getting to a stage there that there wasn’t really anything coming forth for me.
“I knew that with my ambitions of wanting to be a professional footballer, I knew I’d have to go out searching for something – and I’m glad I did.”
Iredale began his footballing career at the prestigious Australian Institute of Sport before signing for A-League outfit Perth Glory, a grounding he feels prepared him for playing abroad:
“In 2012, I was offered a scholarship with the Australian Institute of Sport, so I was there for a few years before moving home and signing for Perth Glory youth team.
“I was there for a few years and trained with the first-team as well. Then for a brief period I moved to ECU Joondalup to play and then came overseas.
“It’s world-class facilities at the A.I.S. and training full-time with a professional club has put me in good stead for trying to get a professional contract in Europe.”
Although he has lived the vast majority of his 21 years in Australia, Jack was actually born in Greenock and his return to Inverclyde was something of a homecoming. He explained:
“I was born in Greenock and left the UK when I was 11 months old. My mum was brought up in Gourock and has been taking me to all the places she grew up and that was nice to see.”
With manager Jim Duffy short in the centre of defence due to a spate of injuries, Iredale could make his debut in tomorrow’s Betfred Cup match against Edinburgh City. His target is to prove his worth to the coaching staff.
“My ambition is to prove to the gaffer and to Craig that I’m good enough to stay in and around the first team.
“I want to play as many games as possible and just hopefully try and get an extension at the end of it all.”
Image: Jonathan Mitchell
