Happy Birthday to Brisbane Roar’s youngest ever Hyundai A-League representative Izaack Powell who today turns 17 – just four days after making his debut for the club.
Powell replaced Jack Hingert in the 29th minute of Friday’s win over Sydney FC to become the Club’s youngest ever player – aged just 16 years, 361 days, breaking a record set by Tommy Oar that had stood for 10 years.
Powell acquitted himself impressively in the backline – containing seasoned stars Milos Ninkovic and Daniel De Silva down the left flank to help the Roar to a 2-1 win over the defending champions.
WATCH: Izaack’s first match at Suncorp Stadium
The BRFC Academy product said he was still pinching himself following his first team debut.
“It was a great feeling, I wasn’t really expecting it but to be given that opportunity with the first team was a great experience,” Powell said.
“My heart rate increased as soon as I saw Jack go down, I was obviously hoping that he was alright and the injury wasn’t too serious but I did know that was probably going to be my opportunity to get on the pitch.”
“It was crazy. Playing at Suncorp Stadium is every kids dream so to be out there looking around at the crowd, playing with some of the players I’ve grown up watching was surreal.”
The teenager, who is still in school studying at Grace Lutheran College, paid tribute to his parents and classmates who were in the crowd for Friday night’s match.
“It was a really special moment, they’ve been with me from the start, supporting me since I was a little kid so it was only right that they would be there for me getting my first first-team appearance,” Powell added.
“They’ve put in a lot of time driving me to training, down to Logan, all around Brisbane really so I owe it all to them.”
“My mates that I go to school with, they’ve been with me since the start too so it was great to have them there with me on Friday night as well.”
Powell, who was part of our Foxtel Y-League Championship winning Young Roar squad, follows in the footsteps of Aaron Reardon and Jay Barnett to become the third BRFC Academy product to make a Hyundai A-League debut this season.
Powell heaped praise on the Club’s two-star Academy program for its role in his development.
“They tell us all that the opportunity will come, it keeps showing how our Academy set-up is producing good young players and the opportunities are coming,” Powell stated.
“For us it’s all about taking your opportunity and trying to stay around the first team.”
