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 Jude Crawford is in the spotlight…
Name: Jude Crawford
DOB: 8 June 2010
Position: Right Back
Club: Larne
School: Campbell College, Belfast
Hometown: Ballymena
Jude Crawford is enjoying his second and final year at the JD Academy.
He particularly loves the fact that being part of the academy has provided him with the opportunity to represent his country.
Back in August he was an integral part of Northern Ireland’s Under-16 squad during the inaugural Cwpan Gary Speed, a four-team international tournament staged in Wales.
Northern Ireland secured the title with a 100 per cent record, defeating hosts Cymru 2-1 in the final match of the competition, and Crawford put in some fine performances.
The young defender, whose earliest memory of playing football was going to a small indoor hall to play a tournament where his team won the competition, has enjoyed his JD Academy journey so far.
Crawford, who considers it an honour to represent his country, acknowledges it can be tough at times being part of an elite programme, but he loves it.
In addition to the required gym work and training involved, the right back also creates some spare time to practice other individual aspects.
“Currently my primary focus is to improve my passing and shooting on my weaker foot,” said Crawford. “To do so I go out every Sunday with my friend to practice.”
As a right back Crawford gains inspiration from national team captain Conor Bradley, who paved his way through JD Club NI, the forerunner to the academy.
“I look up to Conor because of his drive and determination to keep going,” he said.
“No matter who he is up against, he knows his ability and how to get the better of them. He is also humble and remembers where he comes from.”
To represent Northern Ireland at senior international level is right up there among Crawford’s career goals in football.
