Jamie Searle Explained

Jamie Searle
Fullname:Jamie Spencer Searle
Birth Date:25 November 2000
Birth Place:Whakatāne, New Zealand
Height:1.91 m[1]
Position:Goalkeeper
Currentclub:Forest Green Rovers
Clubnumber:20
Youthyears1:2008–2015
Youthclubs1:Whakatāne Town
Youthyears2:2016
Youthclubs2:Cambridge FC
Youthyears3:2017–2018
Youthclubs3:Melville United
Years1:2018–2019
Clubs1:Melville United
Caps1:3
Goals1:0
Years2:2019–2020
Clubs2:Aston Villa
Caps2:0
Goals2:0
Years3:2020–2022
Clubs3:Swansea City
Caps3:0
Goals3:0
Years4:2022–2023
Clubs4:Barnsley
Caps4:1
Goals4:0
Years5:2023–
Clubs5:Forest Green Rovers
Caps5:1
Goals5:0
Nationalyears1:2021
Nationalteam1:New Zealand U-23
Nationalcaps1:1
Nationalgoals1:0
Nationalyears2:2022–
Nationalteam2:New Zealand
Nationalcaps2:1
Nationalgoals2:0
Club-Update:23:54, 16 February 2024 (UTC)
Nationalteam-Update:25 March 2022

Jamie Searle (born 25 November 2000) is a New Zealand footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for club Forest Green Rovers. He was part of the New Zealand squad in the football competition at the 2020 Summer Olympics and made his senior debut in March 2022.[2] [3] [4] Searle played senior football for his local side Melville United while still a teenager, earning an academy place at Aston Villa after a trial, before spells at Swansea City and Barnsley.

Early life

Searle was born in 2000 in Whakatāne, and played for Whakatāne Town, Tauranga City and Cambridge FC in his early years. He completed his secondary education at St Peter's School in Cambridge, south-east of Hamilton.[5]

Club career

Melville United and Aston Villa

Searle began to play for the first team of Melville United during his time at school, making three appearances over three years.

Searle's manager at Melville United, Sam Wilkinson, organised a month-long trial with Aston Villa, and after impressing in friendly matches he signed his first professional contract in August 2019.[6] For the first half-year, either his father or his mother was living with him in Birmingham; during the COVID-19 pandemic he lived on his own.

Swansea City

After his time at Aston Villa, Searle trialled for Blackpool, Sunderland and Swansea City; in July 2020, he signed a one-year contract with Swansea.[7] On 15 June 2021, he signed a one-year extension, with a club option to extend for another season.[8] He was released by Swansea City at the end of his contract on 30 June 2022.[9]

Barnsley

On 16 June 2022, Searle agreed to join League One club Barnsley on a two-year deal upon the expiration of his Swansea City contract.[10] [11]

International career

Searle was a member of the New Zealand Olympic football team at the Tokyo 2020 games but did not play in their run to the quarter-finals.[12] [2] Searle made his debut for the senior New Zealand side in March 2022, playing the full 90 minutes in a World Cup qualifier against New Caledonia.[13]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Jamie Searle . Barnsley F.C. . 6 October 2022.
  2. Web site: Jamie Searle. Soccerway . 17 July 2021.
  3. News: Tokyo Olympics Men's Soccer Preview – Group B (South Korea, Honduras, New Zealand, Romania) . NBC Olympics . 7 July 2021 . 17 July 2021 . Eric . Goodman.
  4. News: Football at Olympics Tokyo 2020: Which Premier League stars are heading to the Games? . SkySports . 15 July 2021 . 17 July 2021 . Ben . Grounds.
  5. News: Nash . Mathew . Whakatane goalkeeper's Olympic dream . 17 July 2021 . SunLive . 12 July 2021.
  6. News: Ireland . Shane . 'Journey has just started' Aston Villa have made this signing . 17 July 2021 . . 9 August 2019.
  7. News: Katee . Shanks. Whakatāne footballer signs with English club Aston Villa . . 9 August 2019 . 18 July 2021.
  8. Web site: Jamie Searle signs new Swansea City contract | Swansea.
  9. Web site: SWANSEA CITY CONFIRM RETAINED LIST . Swansea City F.C. . 19 May 2022 . 9 June 2022 .
  10. Web site: JAMIE SEARLE JOINS THE REDS. www.barnsleyfc.co.uk. 16 June 2022.
  11. Web site: Barnsley sign New Zealand goalkeeper Searle. www.bbc.co.uk.
  12. Web site: 2021-06-25 . Jamie Searle . 2023-09-26 . New Zealand Olympic Team . en.
  13. Web site: New Zealand 7-1 New Caledonia (Mar 24, 2022) Final Score . 2023-09-26 . ESPN . en.