In an ongoing series we are highlighting the young players who are part of the JD Academy, the Irish Football Association’s elite development programme. Today Luca Hall is in the spotlight…
Name: Luca Hall
DOB: 11 February 2011
Position: Central Midfielder
Club: Crusaders
School: Campbell College, Belfast
Hometown: Lisbellaw, Co Fermanagh
Central midfielder Luca Hall distinctly remembers when he first played a game of football as part of a team – and it was against his current club.
He revealed: “My earliest memory as a footballer was playing in the Craigavon Cup against Crusaders in a semi-final, beating the Crues and scoring a hat-trick.
“Then we won the whole tournament by beating Glentoran, and I scored a hat-trick in that match as well.”
The Fermanagh teenager was a Ballinamallard United Academy player at the time.
These days, however, he plays for Crusaders Academy after moving out of his native county to attend the JD Academy based at Campbell College in Belfast. He also switched schools last summer from Enniskillen Royal Grammar School to Campbell.
Although he has been dealing with an injury setback in recent months, Hall has thoroughly enjoyed his first year at the JD Academy.
“It’s been great, and I’ve felt like I have settled in well,” Hall said. “I have enjoyed my experience so far, but it could be improved once I get back fully from injury.
“To be a part of the academy, it makes me feel proud of myself and feels like all those years of hard work brought me to where I want to be. I feel like I am in the right place for my development to reach its full potential and seeing how it has helped a lot of people in the past, on and off the pitch, I believe it will help me as well.”
The academy’s coaches have identified areas where the central midfielder can improve his overall game and he sees such advice as a benefit of the elite programme.
Hall also talked about the importance of the residential aspect of the academy, specifically how it leads to a better relationship with team-mates, both on and off the pitch.
He said: “The difference between the residential side of things and the traditional set-up is that you are always with your team-mates, and they help drive you on to make that extra step.
“Team-mates, a lot of the time, help you reach your heights as a player and help motivate you in the gym and on the pitch. Also the craic is top tier and it makes your experience better - the ability to have mates for years.”
Having already had the privilege of captaining his country, at a U14 development tournament in Liverpool organised by Everton FC in March last year, he would love to wear the armband for Northern Ireland’s senior men’s team one day.
Hall’s ultimate career goal in football is to become a professional footballer, playing at the highest level.
