Our Young Gun series returns for 2024/25 as we get to know the academy youngsters kicking off their careers at Sobha Realty Training Centre.
Jack Porter spoke to us recently, and here’s what he had to say about growing up supporting West Ham, switching to playing in goal and more.
I grew up in Old Harlow and can’t quite remember the exact moment I started playing football, but for as long as I can remember I was always kicking a ball.
I grew up as a West Ham fan, so players like Mark Noble and Dimitri Payet were big inspirations for me. I started out as an outfield player, mainly playing in midfield, but around the age of 12 I decided to switch to playing in goal due to growing pains.
After playing just nine games as a goalkeeper I was picked up by Arsenal for a trial but then, just as it was about to start, Covid hit. Once the restrictions were lifted, I signed with the club six weeks later.
“One moment I was playing Sunday League, the next I was in the Academy at Hale End”
It was all a bit of a surprise to be honest. As I said, I’d only played nine games as a goalkeeper for Gidea Park Rangers when Arsenal showed interest. But I believed in my ability and knew I could play at that level. Signing with Arsenal felt surreal.
One moment I was playing Sunday League football, and the next, I was in the Academy at Hale End playing alongside talented players on top-level pitches. My Hale End days were so much fun! One standout moment would have to be winning the Hale End Cup in our last year. I didn’t play in the tournament but it was still an amazing way to finish our last year there. My favourite tour was to Florida. The place we stayed was brilliant, and the activities outside of the tournament were really fun. The surroundings, the weather – it was just a fantastic experience.
The transition into my full-time scholarship has been seamless. I was told I’d get the scholarship at the end of the under-15s season, which was an amazing feeling. They called me and my dad in for a meeting with Per Mertesacker and Luke Hobbs to let me know. Moving to the Sobha Realty Training Centre was smooth because I’d already trained there quite a bit last season and knew a lot of the players and staff from Hale End.
Playing for the first team against Bolton was an unreal moment. I got a bit of a heads-up from Inaki [first-team goalkeeping coach] that I might start, but the day before the game he told me I was definitely playing and that the coaches felt I was ready. I wasn’t too shocked because with injuries and cup ties I knew there was a big chance. My under-18s coach, Jack Wilshere, gave me some great advice, telling me that I deserved to be there and to just take it as another game. That really helped calm my nerves.
Walking out to 60,000 fans was crazy! I was actually quite calm at first, but when the fans started singing “North London Forever” it all felt very real. The atmosphere was completely different from academy matches — just looking around and seeing fans all around the pitch. But once the game started, I focused on my job, just like I would for an academy match. Looking back, I think I did well for my debut. The coaches and players were happy with my performance, which was reassuring.
Training with the first team a few weeks before definitely helped. I felt confident in communicating with the defenders and telling them where to be on corners. I dealt with everything that came my way – I punched one corner clear and caught another at the end. It’s a special feeling to know I’m the youngest player to ever start for Arsenal. The trust of the manager and the goalkeeper coach means a lot to me.
