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18-y-o Batchelor seeks career jump <DIV class=KonaBody>
By Nodley Wright, Freelance Writer
Seba's Richard Batchelor. - adrian frater
For the average footballer, Jamaica is not the place to be if he is interested in making a career as a professional footballer. In fact, most Jamaicans look to England as the place to truly kick start a professional career and a number of them have done so with Bolton Wanderers' Ricardo Gardner leading the pack. He did so following Jamaica's historic qualification for the 1998 World Cup.
While that formula has worked for Gardner and others, there is one young man doing the opposite. He is 18-year-old English-born forward Richard Batchelor.
"There are a lot of people heading to England yes and a lot of them aren't making it so I thought I would come out here and make a name for myself. Hopefully, I will do something and get an opportunity like guys such as Gardner and those guys who made the move from out here," said Batchelor explaining his decision to head to the land of his father's birth to restart his career.
Back burner
Batchelor is a first cousin of Seba's veteran utility player and former Jamaica representative Norman Foster. It was Foster, he said, who urged him to try his luck in Jamaica.
"There are a lot of guys in England now who are put on the back burner because there are a lot of players over there and it is not a lot of opportunity as much as out here.
"I was on the books of Birmingham City in England and got released at 16. My cousin then said I should come out and try but I did not really take it to mind. I have come out this year because my cousin said the management of Seba was willing to pay for the ticket and stuff," said Batchelor who has been training with the Montego Bay-based club since July.
Obviously disappointed not to be among the five players from his age group retained by Birmingham City in 2004, Batchelor dropped down a few divisions and played against adults to build his game.
"I was quite disappointed but it is just one of those things that you have to take on the chin. I went to open age as soon as I left playing with adults trying to get some experience at a semi-professional club called Ramelus which is two divisions below the conference," he said.
With that being a far cry from his more secure days at Birmingham City where he played age-group football against clubs such as "Manchester United, Liverpool, Arsenal and a few tournaments playing against teams like Parma, Juventus and other clubs from Europe," Batchelor decided that two years were enough. It was time to heed his cousin's call.
Get comfortable
'I hope to be here for a season at least but it depends on whether or not I am picked and if I get comfortable," he explained. "It is good so far and I have fitted in well since I have been here. My cousin Norman bedded me in well. All the players and the coaches have been good to me so it has been good. He has shown me around and besides this is my ninth time in Jamaica so I know a lot of the country anyway."
While the Wray and Nephew National Premier League is just in its third week, Batchelor is yet to kick a ball for Seba in sanctioned competition as he waits on his international clearance. Once it arrives he promises to deliver for his new club.
"I am goalscorer, I am strong, I can hold the ball up and I give a good appearance on the field. I will bring a lot of energy, I put myself about a lot and hopefully I will get a lot of goals," said the strongly-built player who stands at about 5' 10" and who has similar characteristics to Deon Burton.
And like Burton, Batchelor could don the colours of Jamaica if things work his way.
"I am eligible to play for Jamaica as my father is from Kingston an
By Nodley Wright, Freelance Writer
Seba's Richard Batchelor. - adrian frater
For the average footballer, Jamaica is not the place to be if he is interested in making a career as a professional footballer. In fact, most Jamaicans look to England as the place to truly kick start a professional career and a number of them have done so with Bolton Wanderers' Ricardo Gardner leading the pack. He did so following Jamaica's historic qualification for the 1998 World Cup.
While that formula has worked for Gardner and others, there is one young man doing the opposite. He is 18-year-old English-born forward Richard Batchelor.
"There are a lot of people heading to England yes and a lot of them aren't making it so I thought I would come out here and make a name for myself. Hopefully, I will do something and get an opportunity like guys such as Gardner and those guys who made the move from out here," said Batchelor explaining his decision to head to the land of his father's birth to restart his career.
Back burner
Batchelor is a first cousin of Seba's veteran utility player and former Jamaica representative Norman Foster. It was Foster, he said, who urged him to try his luck in Jamaica.
"There are a lot of guys in England now who are put on the back burner because there are a lot of players over there and it is not a lot of opportunity as much as out here.
"I was on the books of Birmingham City in England and got released at 16. My cousin then said I should come out and try but I did not really take it to mind. I have come out this year because my cousin said the management of Seba was willing to pay for the ticket and stuff," said Batchelor who has been training with the Montego Bay-based club since July.
Obviously disappointed not to be among the five players from his age group retained by Birmingham City in 2004, Batchelor dropped down a few divisions and played against adults to build his game.
"I was quite disappointed but it is just one of those things that you have to take on the chin. I went to open age as soon as I left playing with adults trying to get some experience at a semi-professional club called Ramelus which is two divisions below the conference," he said.
With that being a far cry from his more secure days at Birmingham City where he played age-group football against clubs such as "Manchester United, Liverpool, Arsenal and a few tournaments playing against teams like Parma, Juventus and other clubs from Europe," Batchelor decided that two years were enough. It was time to heed his cousin's call.
Get comfortable
'I hope to be here for a season at least but it depends on whether or not I am picked and if I get comfortable," he explained. "It is good so far and I have fitted in well since I have been here. My cousin Norman bedded me in well. All the players and the coaches have been good to me so it has been good. He has shown me around and besides this is my ninth time in Jamaica so I know a lot of the country anyway."
While the Wray and Nephew National Premier League is just in its third week, Batchelor is yet to kick a ball for Seba in sanctioned competition as he waits on his international clearance. Once it arrives he promises to deliver for his new club.
"I am goalscorer, I am strong, I can hold the ball up and I give a good appearance on the field. I will bring a lot of energy, I put myself about a lot and hopefully I will get a lot of goals," said the strongly-built player who stands at about 5' 10" and who has similar characteristics to Deon Burton.
And like Burton, Batchelor could don the colours of Jamaica if things work his way.
"I am eligible to play for Jamaica as my father is from Kingston an
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