It is perhaps fitting that Jordan Holmes is representing the Red & Black of the Wanderers this season.
After all, he was on the books of AFC Bournemouth – a current English Premier League club who wear the same colours – where he was part of their rapid rise to the top of English football.
“I was fortunate enough to sign for AFC Bournemouth when I was 16,” Holmes remembers, “I was with the club for seven years, (and went) from League One to the Championship and the English Premier League.
“(It was) an unbelievable experience.”
Yet for Holmes, whose family is from Western Sydney, he is relishing the unique opportunity to go back to his roots.
“My mum grew up in Fairfield, and growing up I was drawn to football,” Holmes said.
“When the Western Sydney Wanderers came in, I was thinking, ‘yeah this is the team to follow’, and it’s nice to see the West of Sydney being appreciated for everything they have to offer out here.
“Now to have that opportunity to get even closer to my family in Sydney is unbelievable for me.”
Holmes is especially excited for the chance to be a part of the Sydney Derby after witnessing it as a fan in the early days of the Wanderers.
“I can’t wait for the derbies!” Holmes said with fondness, “watching them as a kid – and even as an opposition player playing for another A-League club – (I was) always saying I’d love to be involved in a derby game.
“To be at Western Sydney now and to be able to be a part of the Derby, it’s going to be surreal.”
Holmes will hope to bring his experience gained from his extended time in England and at a two-year stint at the Brisbane Roar.
He understands it will be difficult to dislodge Lawrence Thomas as number one keeper at the club, but he insists he will look to support Thomas and the rest of the squad in his role.
“Lawrence is a great goalkeeper and he’s done so well for the club and internationally, he’s very highly respected,” Holmes said.
“If I have the opportunity and earn the right to play, then I’ll take it with both hands. But I’m here to support anyone.
“If it’s Lawrence, great, if it’s not then it’s me, but I’m happy to support whoever the starting goalkeeper is and play my role in the team, and succeeding in whichever way that can be.”
Holmes also says he has been welcomed with open arms since joining the club last month: “everyone was so welcoming, with the state of the art facility and the coaching staff, all the way from the media team to coaches to behind the scenes workers, everyone’s been so welcoming and great to me.
“I knew a couple of the boys before joining, which made it a bit easier, but it’s a great close knit group, and I’m sure with (Alen Stajcic’s) guidance, there’s no reason why we can push for big things this season.”
In Holmes’ mind, this means making the finals at a minimum, something he wasn’t able to experience during his time at Brisbane.
“Finals football is every A-League player’s dream,” Holmes said.
“They want to be in there on the final day and to win the Grand Final. Unfortunately in the two years I was in the A-League I never had the opportunity to play finals, but I’m sure this year I can’t see why we won’t be there.
“We’re a big powerhouse side in the competition and I think we’ll show people that with the fans and everything around this community why we are one of, if not the biggest, club in Australia.
