Into the Blues - Jake signs pro contract with Linfield

Into the Blues - Jake signs pro contract with Linfield

22 April 2020

A TEENAGE local footballer says he’s “over the moon” after signing professional terms with Linfield.

Eighteen year-old Jake Corbett, from Dromara, has signed his first professional contract with the Blues after some stellar performances for Linfield Swifts.

The exciting young player has scored around 25 goals this season, despite playing in midfield.

And he also helped the Swifts lift the Steel & Sons Cup as they beat Newington 3-1 in the Christmas Day showdown. 

Jake, who joined the Windsor Park outfit three years ago, has been football mad since the age of ten.

He played youth football for Dromore Amateurs, then broke his way into the club’s first team and played in the Amateur League.

After spells with Banbridge Town, Lisburn Distillery and Crusaders he joined Linfield at the age of 15.

An attacking central midfielder, he made an immediate impact and firmly established himself in the Swifts set-up.

His prowess has also earned international honours. He first played for Northern Ireland as a 14 year-old and is in the Northern Ireland squad for this year’s European U-19 Championships.

Jake signed his professional contract last week. He said afterwards: “I am absolutely over the moon to have signed a professional contract at Linfield.

“Linfield is a massive club with the best bunch of players which made my decision to sign much easier than expected. As everyone knows, it’s a dream come true to play for this big club.

“This season for the Swifts, I’ve hit around the 25 goal mark from centre midfield, which everyone says is good, but I’d have preferred to have got even more.”

Jake got a taste of a professional footballer’s life when he was invited to join the Linfield first team squad on a trip to Marbella in Spain last year.

“It was a real experience and a trip to remember. The whole trip made me feel hungrier and really knuckle down to get better and better,” he remarked.

“To be a professional footballer you need a completely different lifestyle. There is much more training and fitness work. Everything has to be dedicated to football.”

Jake is maintaining his fitness regime, despite the coronavirus lockdown, and has developed his own programme with the help of Jonny Pierce, a personal fitness trainer from Lisburn.

Jake says his ultimate ambition is a move to one of the big English clubs, but right now he’s delighted with the progress of his career to date.

“You have to keep your feet firmly on the ground. I’m definitely on the right track and I want to keep it that way,” he added.

Linfield manager David Healy said: “Jake has made a huge impression coming through the underage amateur ranks at the club and he fully deserves the reward of this professional contract.

“He made a huge contribution to the success of the Swifts in winning the Steel and Sons Cup at Christmas and I believe he has a bright and promising future ahead in the game.”