South Melbourne FC is proud to announce the signing of Olyroo Jake Barker-Daish for the 2015 National Premier Leagues season.
Jake grew up in Melbourne and played his junior football at Monash and Box Hill before being awarded a scholarship with the Victorian Institute of Sport. Under the scholarship he played for Altona Magic in the 2008 Victorian Premier League . He would make just one appearance for Altona before transferring to the Australian Institute of Sport, or the FFA Centre of Excellence as it has now been re-branded.
At the age of fifteen, Jake spent two years at the Institute, where he made multiple appearances for the Australian Under 17 and Under 20s team. Most significantly, this included a visit to Colombia in 2011 to represent Australia at the FIFA Under 20 World Cup. Jake moved north following the World Cup and he joined Gold Coast United in the A-League, making seven appearances. Despite the demise of that club, his time in the A-League wasn’t at an end as he then joined Adelaide United. Across two seasons, Jake made nineteen appearances for Adelaide, scored two goals and came off the bench in Adelaide’s 2013 Elimination Final loss to Brisbane Roar.
In early 2014, Jake returned to representative football and played for the Australian Under 23s at the Asian Cup in Oman. He was released by Adelaide United at the end of the 2013-2014 A-League season and proceeded to the Western Sydney Wanderers for a trial, however a contract did not eventuate.
Speaking to smfc.com.au, SMFC football director Nicholas Maikousis was elated with the signing “Jake is a very talented young footballer who we are pleased to have join our football club. He will provide the club will another midfielder with senior A-League experience, we look forward to having him in the centre of the park for the upcoming season.”
Miron Bleiberg signed Jake on his first professional contract at Gold Coast United in the A-League. Ironically, it will be Bleiberg coaching against Jake’s new club when South Melbourne FC host the Oakleigh Cannons in the opening match of the 2015 NPL Victoria season on Thursday 19 February. Kick-off is at 8:15PM.