JETS tyro Archie Goodwin has ditched the textbooks to focus exclusively on the steep learning curve required to make the grade in professional football.
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Goodwin debuted in the A-League last season as a 16-year-old, while still attending Newcastle High School as a Year 11 student.
The gifted striker returned at the start of his final year with the intention of completing his Higher School Certificate, only to find that football commitments were dominating his weeks.
"It was a decision that was hard," he said.
"Mum was the one that wanted me to stay at school, but a lot of the teachers wanted me to put 100 per cent effort into football, because having 10 per cent at school and 90 per cent at football, I wasn't really at my best or putting 100 per cent focus into it.
"It's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity playing football as your career, so I wanted to put all my attention into that and see where it takes me."
It's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity playing football as your career, so I wanted to put all my attention into that.
- ARCHIE GOODWIN
Goodwin said he wasn't "struggling to keep up" with his scholastic requirements, even though his attendance record was well below the norm, given that the Jets were often training four or five days a week.
"There's so many ways these days that you can find your path with education, and I feel like I can do that if football doesn't work out," he said.
The envy of his classmates after scoring a goal as a 16-year-old last season in Newcastle's 2-1 win against eventual champions Melbourne City, Goodwin then endured a frustrating hiatus as the realities of professional football kicked in.
Intensive training and a growing body left him with joint pain in his knees and meant that he missed the first 16 games of Newcastle's 2021-22 campaign.
"I had a couple of setbacks in pre-season with my body," he said. "Just being so young, I had growing pains and just wasn't keeping up with the training we were doing.
"We put some things into place that got my body right, over time.
"It took a while but it was all worth it in the end, because now my body is at a point where I can physically cope with the high intensity that we play at."
He was recalled three weeks ago for the clash with Sydney FC at home and marked the occasion with two goals - becoming the youngest player in A-League history to score a double.
"I want to set as many records as I can, hopefully," he said. "Maybe a hat-trick soon, but we'll have to see."
He now hopes to help play a role in helping Newcastle grab a spot in this season's play-offs.
