Promising young defender James Donachie has pledged his future to Brisbane Roar, penning a new two-year contract extension that will see him at his hometown club until the end of the Hyundai A-League 2016/17 season.
Promising young defender James Donachie has pledged his future to Brisbane Roar, penning a new two-year contract extension that will see him at his hometown club until the end of the Hyundai A-League 2016/17 season.
Twice the club-s Foxtel National Youth League Player of the Year, the 20-year-old signed his first senior contract in September last year ahead of a breakthrough Hyundai A-League season which saw him make 18 appearances in the orange jersey.
Donachie expressed his delight at securing his long-term future with Brisbane Roar – a big show of confidence from Head Coach Mike Mulvey, Football Director Ken Stead and the club-s football department.
“It-s good to have it there so I can focus on what really matters – playing well out on the pitch,” he said.
“There aren-t too many squads these days with home-grown players and it-s huge for me to be able to play for my hometown club.”
Mulvey was equally excited to see Donachie sign with the club.
“We’ve got great faith in James and he’s going to be a stalwart of this club for many years to come,” he said.
“We love the way he’s developing and he’s loving his football.”
The former Loganholme junior has played two Hyundai A-League matches in the early stages of this season, following the prominence of the partnership between club captain Matt Smith and internationally-experienced Jade North.
Donachie says he feels lucky to be working closely and learning from two of the league-s best central defenders.
“When you-ve got two experienced players in front of you like that, it helps me learn the game and develop as a footballer,” he said.
“When it is my time, I feel like I am more prepared than I would be without the experience of playing and training with Matt and Jade.
“Although I may not get as much game time as I-d like, when the opportunities come I need to take them and not take them for granted.”
When Donachie signed his initial Hyundai A-League contract, he chose to wear the number 15 jersey at the club because of the significance it held being formerly worn by fellow Brisbane born-and-bred footballer Matt McKay who has since re-joined the club.
“I still love to pull on the number 15 but I do get a bit of stick from Matty for taking it!” he laughed.
“He-s always stealing my water bottles now.
“I took the number not knowing he-d be back but it-s great to have him here and I like that I-m carrying on the tradition of another Queenslander wearing the number 15.”
Donachie has made 20 appearances for Brisbane Roar and was part of the Australian squad that contested the FIFA U20 World Cup in Turkey earlier this year.
