KAI-LLOY McGeever has been “on Southampton’s radar” for a number of years, and now the 14-year-old Jerseyman has put pen to paper to join the Premier League side’s academy.
Southampton FC have formed a close connection with the Jersey FA and their academy coaches travelled to Jersey twice during 2024 to watch over the players at JFA’s Performance Centre.
The versatile teenager caught the eye of Southampton’s Brad Andrews and his colleagues, earning the opportunity to register with the club until the end of the season, with the goal of cementing his spot in the U16s set-up for the next campaign.
Firstly of St Clement FC, and most recently St Peter FC, the attacker has a keen eye for goal and can play both wide left and right, as well as slotting into the “number 10” role.
However, aside from his footballing prowess, it was McGeever’s “strong character” that struck a chord with Andrews.
“He’s a really exciting player,” said Southampton’s recruitment manager for the U12 to U16 age groups.
“He’s physical and moves really nicely, as well as being a good ball carrier.
“He’s able to both score and create goals and those are all the things that excite scouts and coaches, regardless of whether you’re from the mainland or Jersey.
“Perhaps more importantly, he’s a great young man, with a really strong character.
“To be able to travel across for coaching and matches on weekend’s while continuing his education in Jersey is a massive commitment.
“For someone of his age, he’s very mature, self-disciplined and intelligent education-wise.
“It can be really daunting coming over to join the group.
“Some of them have been in this environment for a few years now, and are receiving two extra coaching sessions through the week, when Kai-Lloy’s back in Jersey.
“But he’s embraced it all and has been able to cope with those demands.
“That just highlights the strength of character that he’s got.”
For home-grown players, the opportunities to advance into professional academies can be scarce and the task at hand very daunting.
Undoubtedly, the level between junior combination football and top academies holding Category 1 status like Southampton are drastically different.
To enter the lion’s den, against players who have been training and playing at that level for a number of years, shows ability, confidence and a level of maturity far beyond McGeever’s years – sentiments echoed by Andrews.
“We came over to Jersey and saw him several times and he earned the chance to come and trial for Southampton in the summer of 2024,” he added.
“He performed well, which was really pleasing as it’s such a hard environment to succeed in.
“Coming from largely playing what is grassroots football in Jersey and being dropped into an academy setting is far from easy.
“Some of the players there have been in the system for four or five years and he came over, did fantastically well and fully deserves his opportunity to be registered with the club until the end of the season.”
The Victoria College student follows in the recent footsteps of Jersey’s Luke Harris, Callum Osmand and Luca Picotto, all of whom were snatched up by Fulham’s academy, via the Jersey FA’s long-standing link with Malcolm Elias, the head of talent ID and recruitment at the London-based side.
Now, it seems that the south coast outfit are keen to re-ignite their relationship with the Channel Islands, and provide more Islanders with the opportunity to fulfil their footballing potential.
Andrews added: “We know how competitive the industry is around these age groups.
“Brexit changed the academy dynamic in terms of European players not being able to come across to the UK until they are much older.
“That has placed more of a focus in recent years on home-grown players and certainly on markets that are not being tapped into as much, like Jersey and Guernsey.
“We have built close links with the guys at the Jersey FA in recent years and have come over to share coaching sessions and take a closer look at the talent pool.
“We also have the Jersey Bulls Academy coming over soon to play one of our assessment centre groups.
“So, for us, it’s about trying to keep that relationship strong and providing players in Jersey with an opportunity to progress in the game.”
