Corey Gameiro knows how it feels to take a chance.
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The promising forward was just 15 years old when he made his first grade debut with the Wollongong Wolves and he didn't disappoint, scoring on debut.
It was the start of the Port Kembla junior's professional journey that has spanned over a decade.
Now, Gameiro is keen to give back to the game and help guide the next generation of players to the top. The 28-year-old will get that chance after being appointed technical director of NSW NPL club Northbridge.
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The Bulls are in partnership with Macarthur FC, providing a pathway into the A-League. It's an opportunity that excites Gameiro, who will draw on his Wolves days for inspiration.
"My journey at the Wollongong Wolves was fantastic, they helped me progress a lot when I was 15. I think I was the youngest player to play NPL1 and score, and that was because of the Wolves," he said.
"People at the club kept pushing me and every barrier that was in front of me, I seemed to get through. I was very fortunate at the Wolves, it was all about 'progressing Corey. How can I help Corey?' I started training with first grade at 15 I was training before school, I was going to the Illawarra Sports High School and training, and then I was training after school as well.
"People wonder, how do you get overseas and making Australian teams? And this is what I tell kids now. You've got to be different, you've got to be working hard and you've got to be training."
Gameiro's A-League career spanned more than 50 games, with the forward enjoying stints at Wellington (loan deal), Sydney FC, Melbourne City, Brisbane and Central Coast.
After finishing up at the Mariners, he represented NSW NPL club St George City in 2019, before taking on a coaching role at Football NSW Institute.
It's fair to say Gameiro understands what it takes to play in the A-League.
"I know where I've been, I know what I've done, I know what's elite and what needs to be done, and the standards that need to be set. And that's the type of things I want to give back to a club and make the culture filter through an entire club," Gameiro said.
"It's also about bridging that gap to be able get some of our players from Northbridge Bulls into the A-League at Macarthur Bulls. That's my main goal. How can I fast track some of these kids? Some have already made it. There was a boy from Northbridge in first grade last year who got on the bench for Ante Milicic's team in the A-League. In the space of a year, things can change very quickly if you're around the right people, you have the right guidance and you're training hard.
"Sometimes opportunities come up and you've got to take it with both hands."
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Joshua Bartlett
A sporting fanatic who is keen to promote all codes in the Illawarra and abroad. Mercury's chief football reporter.
A sporting fanatic who is keen to promote all codes in the Illawarra and abroad. Mercury's chief football reporter.
