Former coach of Arsenal goalkeeper Jack Porter recalls time seeing him play as a winger for youth football team

The former coach of Arsenal’s record-breaking goalkeeper Jack Porter has happy memories of watching him play - as a winger for a Harlow youth team.

Porter wrote his name in the Gunners’ history books on Wednesday evening (September 25) when he became the youngest player to start a first-team game for them, aged 16 years and 72 days, against Bolton Wanderers in the third round of the Carabao Cup at the Emirates Stadium.

The teenage shot-stopper broke the record set by Spanish midfielder Cesc Fabregas, who was 16 years and 177 days old when he started against Rotherham United, also in the League Cup, at Highbury back in October 2003.

Porter, who previously attended Leventhorpe School in Sawbridgeworth, helped the Premier League side triumph 5-1 against their Sky Bet League One opponents on a wet night in the capital.

As well as playing in front of a crowd of 59,056 and people watching live on Sky Sports in this country as well as via other broadcasters around the world, he also got to line up alongside a host of household names and internationals. England’s Bukayo Saka, Declan Rice and Raheem Sterling all started the tie, as did the likes of Gabriel Jesus and Jorginho.

Porter is a first-year scholar and his chance came as regular No 1 David Raya was injured, recent signing Neto was cup-tied having already featured for Bournemouth in this season’s competition and fellow youngster Tommy Setford was also sidelined.

The teenager has now secured a place in Arsenal folklore, but things could have been very different had he not developed heel pain, known as sever’s, when he was playing for Harlow-based Newhall Rangers as an under-11 and switched from being an attacker to a goalkeeper.

Porter began his footballing journey a few years earlier, aged seven, when he represented Sumners FC, also in Harlow, which was run from 2009 until 2019 by Thorley-based coach and scout Andi Pearce. He was a “tricky, skilful winger” according to Pearce, who had him in his team until he was an under-10.

He was still playing out on pitch when he moved to Newhall Rangers in the under-11s, until the sever’s pain forced him to ask if he could go in goal instead. He enjoyed the experience and worked on his goalkeeping skills with dad Richard on the village green close to his home.

Mum Louise then posted a message on Facebook to ask if any youth football clubs were in need of an under-11 goalkeeper and a positive reply came from Gidea Park Rangers. It was while playing for GPR under-11s against Levels FC, at the Barking Riverside Academy, that he was scouted by both Arsenal and West Ham United.

On scouting duty for the Gunners that day were Matt Chibamba and Johnny Knight, with their appraisal of Porter leading to him attending their development centre for five weeks. He was then asked to have a trial - which lasted nine months due to the pandemic - before signing for the north London club as an under-14.

Now a first-year scholar - he combines playing with studying at the Gunners’ Sobha Realty Training Centre in London Colney - he has been training with the first-team squad in spells since the start of this season.

The youngster was an unused substitute for their opening Champions League match of the campaign at Atalanta last week and also travelled with the squad for the Premier League encounter at Manchester City on Sunday.

And his historic debut then came against Bolton, with Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta telling him the previous day that he would be between the sticks.

“Jack is a really level-headed young man,” said Pearce, who combines his day job as swimming pool and sports facilities manager at Bishop’s Stortford College with being an under-15 and under-16 emerging talents scout at Arsenal.

“He’s very calm and you don’t make it at that level if you can’t deal with pressure.

“I know his mum and dad were excited but extremely nervous, but I don’t think Jack was. It’s huge what he’s done.”

Pearce said Porter was always smiling and was a pleasure to coach during his time at Sumners as a young boy. He was also always impressed with his mentality.

“To play for Arsenal’s first team at that age is monumental,” said Pearce. “I think it’s harder for a goalkeeper, especially at that age, as there’s nowhere to hide.

“Did I think he’d be a goalkeeper for Arsenal when he was dribbling with the ball down the wing for Sumners? Absolutely not, but he was very coachable and had a great mentality.”

Porter, who featured for Arsenal’s under-21s when they took on Bishop’s Stortford at the RDA Stadium in a pre-season friendly in July, will now be hoping for further first-team opportunities as he continues his development in the youth ranks.

And Gunners boss Arteta praised him for his attitude, both in the cup tie and in training, during his post-match interview.

“Well, we told him yesterday and he was over the moon straight away,” said Arteta. “I think he spoke to his family. And, yeah, they weren't prepared for that.

“It’s a big step. It’s a big occasion for them. And I think they were nervous about it.

“But I think he reacted really well. He was really composed yesterday in training, today as well.

“His team-mates really helped him as well on that. And what an experience and what a way to break a record.”

The Porter family comprises two talented young footballers as Jack’s younger brother George, who plays as a centre-back, is part of the under-14s setup in Colchester United’s academy.