Progression is target for Jamie Searle after new Swansea City contract

16th June
Jamie Searle

Jamie Searle is looking forward to another year of development at Swansea City after the goalkeeper signed a new one-year contract.

The New Zealander put pen to paper on a Wednesday to extend his stay in south west Wales for another 12 months, having initially joined the club in September following his release from Aston Villa.

The 20-year-old featured for the under-23s during the 2020-21 campaign, and his performances and development have been rewarded with a new deal.

And Searle, who hails from Whakatane in the Bay of Plenty, said his progress has been down to the guidance of Martin Davies, head of academy goalkeeping at the Swans, along with the structure and set up in place at the club.

Jamie Searle

“I was released at Villa in the middle of lockdown, but fortunately I got the chance here,” said Searle.

“It’s an amazing place to come and play football. The scenery is similar to back home, the people are incredibly friendly and the club has the facilities and coaches to help me develop my game.

“Over the last year I’ve felt that I’ve really pushed on and developed.

“I’ve loved playing in the games. In the first three or four months I was putting in a lot of work to iron out a few parts of my game, and I feel I’m a lot better off now.

“It’s a lovely environment here. It’s a friendly, happy environment.

“I’ve been really focussed on my football, but I’ve been really lucky to have been embraced off the pitch by my team-mates.

“I’ve also loved every minute of working with Martin. I have a lot to thank him for in terms of the work he’s done with me already.

“My all-round game has improved, but my shot-saving ability, dominance in the box and crossing are the aspects which has really come on thanks to working with Martin.

“I know in the year ahead we can do a lot more good work and bring my game on.”While Searle is continuing his development in the under-23s, his ultimate aim is to follow in the footsteps of many academy graduates and progress into the first team.

Jamie Searle

And he’s already had a taste of what life is like in the senior set up, where he was coached by Martyn Margetson, who is currently away with England at Euro 2020.

“I trained with the first team after my first game,” added Searle. “Martin Davies came up to me on the bus and said ‘you’re training at Fairwood tomorrow’.

“I absolutely loved it. I walked into the building and everyone welcomed me and introduced themselves. Working at Landore is obviously great, but the main aim is to be at Fairwood every day and pushing myself to be in the first-team picture.

“It was great to work with Marge – he’s got so much experience of working in club level and with national teams.

“Seeing how Marge and Martin work in different ways has really benefited me. They look at the smallest details and turn them into the biggest improvements. It’s really fascinating.”