Three years ago at 16 years of age, Josh Wallen was playing for Bangalow Soccer Club on the Far North Coast.
This week, the now 19 year old has signed his first professional contract by earning a deal with English Premier League side, Queens Park Rangers (QPR) in their Under 21 ranks.
Wallen attended Trinity High School in Lismore and held over four years’ experience in the Football Far North Coast (FFNC) High Performance program before he accepted a scholarship in the UK with the Watford Football Academy under 18’s team in 2007.
Assisting Wallen’s eligibility to sign a contract in the UK, is the English heritage of Wallen’s father John, who along with mother Rachael, are delighted with this opportunity, describing it as, ‘a dream come true’.
Former coaches, including his school coach Jim Holmes and Jim Gelagotis, who mentored Wallen during playing stints at Bangalow SC and Palm Beach FC, can also arguably share the pride and excitement of the news that Wallen has signed an 18 month contract in the UK with the QPR until 2017.
On behalf of Football Far North Coast and Northern NSW Football, we wish Josh all the best in the pursuit of his football future with QPR and beyond.
