South Melbourne FC

The Blue and White Forever

Jamie Pollock returns to Lakeside for 2017

Jamie Pollock returns to Lakeside for 2017

Pollock

South Melbourne FC is excited to announce the signing of Jamie Pollock who returns to Lakeside Stadium for the 2017 NPL Victoria Season.

Pollock grew up in Georgia, USA first experienced football at Harrison High School also playing youth football at Tophat 08 Gold and as part of the Georgia State Olympic Development Program. Accolades followed the midfielder through her youth football being a part of and Captaining teams to the Georgia State Championship and the Olympic Development Program National Championship.

Her success continued at the University of Georgia where she started every game she played over the course of three years, scoring 8 goals and 12 assists. As her time with the Georgia Bulldogs came to a close, she was offered a contract with Atlanta Beat in the Women’s Professional Soccer League, however the league would fold before she graced the pitch. In 2013, Pollock joined the Florida Atlantic Owls as a coach, before moving north to join the Boston Breakers setup in the National Women’s Soccer League

A year later and Pollock was back in her native Georgia, this time playing for the Atlanta Silverbacks. The Silverbacks would be her last US-based team as she made the long journey down under to play in Victoria. South Melbourne Senior Coach Socrates Nicolaidis has extensive experience in the USA having coached at club and college level for some fifteen years. His network enabled him to identify Pollock to join his squad at Lakeside. He was interviewed about the signing by The Corner Flag and said “Jamie played for a friend of mine James Galanis and he selected her for the Atlanta Beat in 2012, giving her a glowing report. She’s a high pedigree player. She raises the standard at training, brought a professionalism to training and she’s like a new zest of life. She’s a special player and she scores special goals”.

Pollock’s debut for South Melbourne was in June 2015 against the Senior NTC, followed by her Lakeside debut a week later against Casey Comets. A successful 2015 campaign for South Melbourne finish fourth and qualify for the finals. Pollock would play a crucial role. In week two of the finals she scored a 90th-minute goal to down Heidelberg in a thrilling match at Lakeside. The following week she would score a brace at Kingston Health to help eliminate Ashburton United and book a place in the Grand Final. Pollock played a critical role throughout the final and was front and centre as South Melbourne Captain Alex Cheal raised the club’s Grand Final trophy.

 

This Jamie Pollock strike doubled the lead for South Melbourne right on half time.
This Jamie Pollock strike doubled the lead for South Melbourne right on half time. Pollock would score again on the way to a 3-0 win and a place in the 2015 Grand Final

Dave Edmondson, the coach at Melbourne Victory came knocking and Pollock was soon pulling on a W-League jersey. She would make 10 appears for the club through the summer season before joining FC Bulleen Lions for the inaugural NPLW season. Pollock represented the Lions on 23 occasions scoring four goals.

With South Melbourne joining the NPLW for 2017, the opportunity existed for Pollock to return to the club she first called home when coming to Australia. It will be a friendly return with familiar faces in the dressing room and Socrates Nicolaidis still Senior Coach. Reflecting on a half season in 2015 in which she scored 13 goals, Pollock was side-by-side with the likes of Alex Cheal, Natalie Martineau, Caitlin Grieser and Tiffany Eliadis. Jamie Pollock will once again join these names in the Lakeside Stadium dressing room as South Melbourne prepares for its first foray in the NPLW.

Speaking to smfc.com.au, Pollock is excited to once again pull on the blue and white South jersey saying “it is an amazing feeling to return to South Melbourne, to Lakeside Stadium and to so many familiar faces and friends. The history, culture and atmosphere at our Club is unique and it is a wonderful opportunity to be a part of it once again. It was only a year ago when I last played for South that we raised the Grand Final trophy and I am really looking forward to doing that again in 2017″.

Women’s Football Director Gabrielle Guiliano jumped at the chance to welcome Pollock back to South Melbourne. “Our playing group, as well as the broader club has always been a family environment. It’s always hard to lose players but we encourage our girls to develop and strive to be better. The opportunity for Jamie to play in the W-League on the national stage here in Australia was fantastic for her. Now in 2017 it’s great to have her back at South Melbourne. You only need to read her playing history to recognise the depth of experience she has to offer. As well as being a star in the midfield, her leadership both on and off the pitch plays a critical role at the club, especially as we develop girls through our youth program” she said.

We wish Jamie all the best for the 2017 season.

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