Jago’s Caorle Cup Fundraiser – From Injury to Italy

Hi everyone, I wanted to share a bit about what’s been going on for me recently and something really exciting that’s just happened.

Football has always been a big part of my life. I’ve dreamed of playing at the highest level I can and have always worked hard to give myself a shot at that. When I was around seven, I got into a Crystal Palace development centre run by EMC Academy, and that gave me a taste of what was possible.

But last season, everything came to a stop - see the photos below!

I fractured my foot during a match. What I thought would be a short break turned into something much bigger. The injury didn’t heal properly and I ended up needing surgery, which meant six months off the pitch. It was one of the hardest times I’ve had—watching from the sidelines, losing match fitness, and wondering if I’d ever get back to the level I wanted to be at.

This season, I’ve been playing for Bearsted in a higher league than I’ve ever played in before. Coming back has been tough. We’ve had a challenging season, and I’ve had to rebuild my confidence and sharpness bit by bit. At times it’s been frustrating and hard to keep pushing, but I’ve stuck at it.

In February, I was invited to trial again for EMC Academy. I hadn’t played at that level in a while, and I was nervous—but I gave it everything and was buzzing to get back in. Since then, I’ve been training regularly, improving every week, and was even asked to step up and train with the older age group.

And then last week came something completely unexpected.

Mum got a call from EMC’s Academy Operations Manager:

“We know it’s short notice, but we’d like to invite Jago to join our U15 team at a high-level international tournament in Italy over Easter — the Caorle Cup. Do you think he’d be interested?”

When she came into my room holding the phone with Dad on the line, I thought something was wrong… and then she told me. I was honestly speechless. My head and heart nearly exploded.

This is a proper tournament with teams from all over Europe, and we’ll be staying near the beach, playing in the sunshine, and representing the academy. It’s not just about football—it’s about stepping up, experiencing something totally new, and making memories that will stay with me for life.

To help make the trip happen, I’m aiming to raise £1,000 to cover the costs of travel, accommodation, and tournament fees. My family are helping me as much as they can, and I’m really grateful for any support, encouragement, or even just taking the time to read this.

I’ll take loads of photos while I’m out there so I can share the journey with everyone who’s supported me.

Thanks again for being part of this. Jago