12.08.19, the beginning of the journey towards my first professional football contract. But in actual fact the journey began at the age of 4. From the day I was able to obtain the ability to walk and talk I was immediately obsessed with football. The feeling of excitement would rise within my body each time the ball was at my feet. No matter the occasion, I always took the opportunity to kick the ball around with my parents and friends. I was lucky enough to have qualities passed down through the family genes, father being a fantastic footballer himself and mother having the ability to be great at anything she does. So be able to have parents like mine has enabled me to possess the ability I have to this day. I started off my football career at the local football club, Blue Rovers FC. Playing and training weekly, the older I got the more established I found myself with the love of the game.
At the age of 6, my first day of school banged on the front door. But that wasn't going to stop me from getting the chance to play football. Every morning tea, lunch break and after school the ball would be at my feet. Whether it was in the wet and soggy mud in winter or the dry hard grass in summer the love never disappeared. I continued to play for Blue Rovers until the age of 10-11 before moving onto a more challenging stage of my career, playing within a higher age group. But yet no challenge seemed impossible. I worked harder and harder and harder until the impossible was just a weekly chance to continuing rising within the footballing community. Within the last year of primary school at Greenpark, I had the biggest opportunity I had obtained yet. The chance to travel half way around the world to place called Jersey where a football tournament being played. Not knowing what was awaiting me I played my heart out and enjoyed the opportunity like any other football tournament I'd played in. Being a 13 year old boy, young and immature, I had no idea of the magnitude of the tournament and the prospect of what was to come. Being the son of a Valentine stacked the odds for me. My father, Tony Valentine, was a prospect within the Manchester City Academy within his younger ages. This meant one main objective for me, and the perfect opening to trial at Manchester City came my way. The trial was one to not forget, capturing the eyes of the coaching staff and being fortunate enough to be recalled the next year to take up a spot within the Academy of my fathers past.
The year rolled over and the time ticked along. I was impatiently waiting to get back over to where my career was going to have the opportunity to emerge from others and develop. But it seemed like it wasn't to be. Still being a 'young and immature 13 year old' I thought I was untouchable. Three days before departure was upon us I attended my best friends birthday party at a water park. I was so excited about the party, the footballing aspect wasn't on my mind. It was nearing the end of the party when the unthinkable happened. As was going to be the start of my footballing career, it also turned out to be the start of my 'injury prone' time period. I had broken my foot, but as you'll find out soon enough, any injury Ollie Valentine sustains is a well done injury. The broken foot turned out to be a Liz Frank Injury, a rare injury not seen on a day to day basis. The injury halted any further chance to head back to the country that was awaiting my dream. But none the less, I was determined to continue on following my dream. I continued to work hard throughout the next few years and got myself the opportunity to captain my school team to the final of the prestigious AIMS GAMES. I had worked hard to make sure I could help my anyway possible to achieve something the school had never done before. By reaching the final of the tournament, the hard work was close to paying off. But yet again, the gold medal just didn't seem to be within the storyline. The tournament unfolded many more propositions for my future.
Within the week of AIMS GAMES many scouts and coaches from around the country turned out to seek the next big talents. I wasn't going to pass up an opportunity like this one. I put myself in a position where a top prospect school approached my parents about a football scholarship. This was a big moment in my career, after the disappointment of the Manchester City Academy slipping away. My parents where in the position to make the best decision for me, being I was still young and agile to the outside world. I stayed in my home town Tauranga for the next year where I started college awaited on the right time to pounce on the opportunity of the footballing scholarship. A big factor in deciding to move within the next year was the separation of my parents. Being a young adolescent I didn't know what to think or do. Being able to move away from home and focus on my footballing dream was the best possible outcome. It turned out to provide me with some big life lessons, learning some good adult attributes along the way at Mount Albert Grammar School where I was staying within an all boys boarding hostel. Within the three years at boarding school, I sharpened up, matured and put all my focus into developing and taking my football to the next level. A window of opportunity arose and I travelled to Spain with Auckland City, a well known team within New Zealand for there winning ability.
Spain become a big learning point for me. Playing against the colossal clubs, Barcelona FC & Porto FC, was an eye opener. I played my heart out and put myself in the shop window and it proved to not be enough. My whole mindset had changed. The hard work I had been doing was simply not enough and the standard of football I was developing in had to be higher. By the time I arrived back in New Zealand my mind was set on heading down south to the only professional club within the country, Wellington Phoenix. Yet again, I was lucky enough to obtain a spot within the academy and the hard work continued. This was the first big moment to gain my first professional contract. I worked harder than anyone, put in the extra yards and even skipped school lessons to train by myself. I lived my life by a motto I once heard, "hard work beats talent when talent doesn't work hard". So I pushed and pushed and made significant changes to my lifestyle, my diet, all to give myself the best chance to sign the dotted lines that were awaiting my signature.
Over the course of my time at the Wellington Phoenix, many injuries hindered my likelihood of earning a professional contract. Time passed and so did the opportunity. I took a step back to access my next option, where would I go? How would I gain my first professional contract? Will the contract ever become an option to me? Many thoughts were going through my mind, but I was motivated to never give up, no matter the odds. And the odds pointed me in the direction of Australia, so across the ditch I went. I took up a spot within the Central Coast Mariners Academy, being placed in their reserve side, one step away from a contract. I started off playing well, more consistently than ever before. I was not only enjoying my football but also playing like a professional should be. But as known, an injury stopped me in my tracks. A broken wrist halted my chance of ending the season on a high. I continued to maintain my positive mindset throughout the injury and kept my head down. I made a great recovery and recovered in time to play the remaining three games of the season. At this point the club had gone through staff changes the situation to gain my first professional contract became even harder, citizenship issues became a problem and my time at the Central Coast Mariners was over before it had really begun.
So I was stuck in the same situation as I was in Wellington, where to next? I was desperate, I had never wanted anything more in my life so any chances that occurred I took them. Out of the blue, an agent, so to speak, was in contact with my father about heading back to England for trials at professional football clubs. As it stood, it was the best opportunity for me and having the amazing parents I have, I was able to have their support to travel to England within the next week of being brought up on the opportunity. I arrived in England, ready more than ever to do anything I could to grasp at the option to earn a contract. I trialled at big clubs, Middlesborough, Preston North End and Sheffield United. As well as I trialled and trained and stood out among the rest I wasn't lucky enough. I waited it out for over 6 months, waiting for the next break but unfortunately I didn't have the best representation. I decided, with my parents approval, to pack my bags and move onto the next adventure within my career path.
I flew to The Netherlands, where I had no footballing opportunities awaiting me but had family members to visit in the time being. I continued to work hard in silence and maximize my surroundings to keep my dream alive. No later than two weeks later, I got my next chance and it was in an unexpected location, Austria. I travelled to Austria ready to make sure this was the last chance I needed to earn my first contract. And with the luck of the draw I signed my first professional contract with FC Pinzgau Saalfelden. My dream had come true, it felt surreal. The support of my family and friends pushed me through the entire journey. The excitement set in and I couldn't wipe the smile of my face for days. I felt like I was on the top of the world. And this is where the next chapter of my life beings, 06.01.2020.
At the age of 6, my first day of school banged on the front door. But that wasn't going to stop me from getting the chance to play football. Every morning tea, lunch break and after school the ball would be at my feet. Whether it was in the wet and soggy mud in winter or the dry hard grass in summer the love never disappeared. I continued to play for Blue Rovers until the age of 10-11 before moving onto a more challenging stage of my career, playing within a higher age group. But yet no challenge seemed impossible. I worked harder and harder and harder until the impossible was just a weekly chance to continuing rising within the footballing community. Within the last year of primary school at Greenpark, I had the biggest opportunity I had obtained yet. The chance to travel half way around the world to place called Jersey where a football tournament being played. Not knowing what was awaiting me I played my heart out and enjoyed the opportunity like any other football tournament I'd played in. Being a 13 year old boy, young and immature, I had no idea of the magnitude of the tournament and the prospect of what was to come. Being the son of a Valentine stacked the odds for me. My father, Tony Valentine, was a prospect within the Manchester City Academy within his younger ages. This meant one main objective for me, and the perfect opening to trial at Manchester City came my way. The trial was one to not forget, capturing the eyes of the coaching staff and being fortunate enough to be recalled the next year to take up a spot within the Academy of my fathers past.
The year rolled over and the time ticked along. I was impatiently waiting to get back over to where my career was going to have the opportunity to emerge from others and develop. But it seemed like it wasn't to be. Still being a 'young and immature 13 year old' I thought I was untouchable. Three days before departure was upon us I attended my best friends birthday party at a water park. I was so excited about the party, the footballing aspect wasn't on my mind. It was nearing the end of the party when the unthinkable happened. As was going to be the start of my footballing career, it also turned out to be the start of my 'injury prone' time period. I had broken my foot, but as you'll find out soon enough, any injury Ollie Valentine sustains is a well done injury. The broken foot turned out to be a Liz Frank Injury, a rare injury not seen on a day to day basis. The injury halted any further chance to head back to the country that was awaiting my dream. But none the less, I was determined to continue on following my dream. I continued to work hard throughout the next few years and got myself the opportunity to captain my school team to the final of the prestigious AIMS GAMES. I had worked hard to make sure I could help my anyway possible to achieve something the school had never done before. By reaching the final of the tournament, the hard work was close to paying off. But yet again, the gold medal just didn't seem to be within the storyline. The tournament unfolded many more propositions for my future.
Within the week of AIMS GAMES many scouts and coaches from around the country turned out to seek the next big talents. I wasn't going to pass up an opportunity like this one. I put myself in a position where a top prospect school approached my parents about a football scholarship. This was a big moment in my career, after the disappointment of the Manchester City Academy slipping away. My parents where in the position to make the best decision for me, being I was still young and agile to the outside world. I stayed in my home town Tauranga for the next year where I started college awaited on the right time to pounce on the opportunity of the footballing scholarship. A big factor in deciding to move within the next year was the separation of my parents. Being a young adolescent I didn't know what to think or do. Being able to move away from home and focus on my footballing dream was the best possible outcome. It turned out to provide me with some big life lessons, learning some good adult attributes along the way at Mount Albert Grammar School where I was staying within an all boys boarding hostel. Within the three years at boarding school, I sharpened up, matured and put all my focus into developing and taking my football to the next level. A window of opportunity arose and I travelled to Spain with Auckland City, a well known team within New Zealand for there winning ability.
Spain become a big learning point for me. Playing against the colossal clubs, Barcelona FC & Porto FC, was an eye opener. I played my heart out and put myself in the shop window and it proved to not be enough. My whole mindset had changed. The hard work I had been doing was simply not enough and the standard of football I was developing in had to be higher. By the time I arrived back in New Zealand my mind was set on heading down south to the only professional club within the country, Wellington Phoenix. Yet again, I was lucky enough to obtain a spot within the academy and the hard work continued. This was the first big moment to gain my first professional contract. I worked harder than anyone, put in the extra yards and even skipped school lessons to train by myself. I lived my life by a motto I once heard, "hard work beats talent when talent doesn't work hard". So I pushed and pushed and made significant changes to my lifestyle, my diet, all to give myself the best chance to sign the dotted lines that were awaiting my signature.
Over the course of my time at the Wellington Phoenix, many injuries hindered my likelihood of earning a professional contract. Time passed and so did the opportunity. I took a step back to access my next option, where would I go? How would I gain my first professional contract? Will the contract ever become an option to me? Many thoughts were going through my mind, but I was motivated to never give up, no matter the odds. And the odds pointed me in the direction of Australia, so across the ditch I went. I took up a spot within the Central Coast Mariners Academy, being placed in their reserve side, one step away from a contract. I started off playing well, more consistently than ever before. I was not only enjoying my football but also playing like a professional should be. But as known, an injury stopped me in my tracks. A broken wrist halted my chance of ending the season on a high. I continued to maintain my positive mindset throughout the injury and kept my head down. I made a great recovery and recovered in time to play the remaining three games of the season. At this point the club had gone through staff changes the situation to gain my first professional contract became even harder, citizenship issues became a problem and my time at the Central Coast Mariners was over before it had really begun.
So I was stuck in the same situation as I was in Wellington, where to next? I was desperate, I had never wanted anything more in my life so any chances that occurred I took them. Out of the blue, an agent, so to speak, was in contact with my father about heading back to England for trials at professional football clubs. As it stood, it was the best opportunity for me and having the amazing parents I have, I was able to have their support to travel to England within the next week of being brought up on the opportunity. I arrived in England, ready more than ever to do anything I could to grasp at the option to earn a contract. I trialled at big clubs, Middlesborough, Preston North End and Sheffield United. As well as I trialled and trained and stood out among the rest I wasn't lucky enough. I waited it out for over 6 months, waiting for the next break but unfortunately I didn't have the best representation. I decided, with my parents approval, to pack my bags and move onto the next adventure within my career path.
I flew to The Netherlands, where I had no footballing opportunities awaiting me but had family members to visit in the time being. I continued to work hard in silence and maximize my surroundings to keep my dream alive. No later than two weeks later, I got my next chance and it was in an unexpected location, Austria. I travelled to Austria ready to make sure this was the last chance I needed to earn my first contract. And with the luck of the draw I signed my first professional contract with FC Pinzgau Saalfelden. My dream had come true, it felt surreal. The support of my family and friends pushed me through the entire journey. The excitement set in and I couldn't wipe the smile of my face for days. I felt like I was on the top of the world. And this is where the next chapter of my life beings, 06.01.2020.
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