Experience for Plymouth Albion youngster
Aug
MANY youngsters may not relish the idea of a week's work experience while at school.
But for Plymouth teenager Jamie O'Gallagher it turned out to be a life changing experience.
As a promising school rugby player at Plymouth College, O'Gallagher decided to see if he could spend his sixth form work placement at Championship side Albion.
Albion, who have close links with Plymouth College, agreed to his request.
Yet rather than spending a week working in the office or with the ground and maintenance staff, O'Gallagher found himself training every day with Albion's first-team.
And the youngster, who had not been playing for any club side, made such an impression that Albion offered him a deal once he had finished his A-Levels this summer.
"He came and spent a week with us when he was 17-years-old and he left a good impression," said Albion's chairman of rugby Graham Dawe.
"He is quite a powerful lad. He is physically very developed and is capable of playing at this level."
And the teenage centre got his chance to show he was up to it last Saturday when he travelled to Neath with Albion's first-team squad for their final pre-season match before the new Championship season kicks off.
He came on for the final few minutes of that game and also played the following day for Albion's development side.
O'Gallagher is being sponsored at Albion by Plymouth College, where he will coach their juniors during the autumn and winter terms.
Albion do have good links with schools in and around Plymouth and the club have always tried to develop their own talent.
A number of young players have made their first team debuts at Albion while still at school or within a year of finishing. The list includes the likes of Chris Bell, Luke and Tom Arscott, Mike Lewis, Arran Cruickshanks and Harry Spencer.
And the club have been grooming more city talent this week with the latest of their 'Master Class' training days.
Albion have held four coaching days for school pupils this summer with each one of them attracting good turnouts.
During each of these days Albion's first-team players have been passing on rugby and lifestyle tips to youngsters between the ages of five and 18.
