A YOUNG Mangotsfield United footballer has signed a contract to play for a top-flight Italian club.
While other 18 year olds prepare to start university, an apprenticeship or job, Jack Nunn has moved to Cagliari, on the Italian island of Sardinia, to join the Serie A side’s Under-20s squad.
He has signed a two-year deal, with an option for a third year, and over that time will be aiming to play his way into the first team squad.
Jack has lived in Winterbourne all his life and first played football for Frampton Rangers, aged four.
He joined Mangotsfield United at the age of seven, to take advantage of the opportunity of progression to adult football.
The move paid off, and Jack first broke into the senior team at the age of 16, after showing “great promise” as he progressed through the age groups.
Club chairman Steve Brown said: “Over the last two seasons, he has become a regular and was part of the two sides that won both the League Cup and the County Cup.
“While it’s obviously a huge loss to us here, we couldn’t be more happy for Jack on this fantastic accomplishment, and it’s no more than he deserves!
“We wish him all the very best in his future career and thank him for his loyalty, dedication and service to Mangotsfield United.”
Jack was scouted by Cagliari while he was playing in a football tournament for representative national college sides.
He had been picked to play in the tournament on the strength of his performances in midfield for SGS College. There he studied a BTEC in business and finance and trained under former Leeds United head coach Dave Hockaday, who described Jack as a “versatile central defensive midfielder, box-to-box midfielder, number 10, striker, and occasional centre-back”.
Jack was part of the England Colleges Football Association side which went to the Roma Caput Mundi invitational football tournament in the Italian capital earlier this year.
He was spotted by Cagliari during his first game and then watched by a club scout, who offered him a trial.
Jack’s dad Dave said: “We ended up going to Sardinia for two nights to see the club – it’s a really nice club. We were invited back at Easter and at the end they were saying they wanted him.”
Jack attended Winterbourne Academy before going to SGS, and started playing football for Frampton Rangers at the age of four and a half.
Dave said: “He went just to have a kickabout at the weekend.
“His first game was in the tipping-down rain – it didn’t deter him.”
Jack also played with development side Bristol Inner City from the age of eight, alongside future Bristol City players Ephraim Yeboah, Rae Nelson, Elijah Morrison and Billy Phillips.
He never joined a league club’s academy, and Dave said this had allowed him to just enjoy playing the game.
Dave said: “In academies people are always worried the kids are going to get shoved out, but no-one ever restricted him from playing football.
“It wasn’t something he was looking to make a career out of. This opportunity has come up and he’s just gone with it.
“The Italians like him because he’s got the technical skills they like but he’s picked up the physical side of English football as well.
“It’s a big move from Winterbourne to Sardinia – we’ve never even been there on holiday.
“Jack’s very grounded and I hope he will cope very well.
“The worst that can happen is he gets two years in Italy, and comes back with a suntan and something to tell the kids about.”
Jack has joined the Cagliari squad that plays in the Primavera 1 U20s league.
He is finding life “very different”, especially the language, which he is learning.
Jack said: “Obviously it was a great surprise to get scouted by such a prestigious club, and playing football in Italy, or anywhere abroad, was something I never imagined.
“I’m hoping to become an established team member – progression in time to play for the first team would be a dream come true.”