In the words of musician J Cole, “Let me y’all back man.”

It’s the year 2002. That drive along a once bumpy Elizabeth Drive as you entered Kemps Creek in Sydney’s West always seemed to have your body shaking like an earth quake that’s just hit five on the Richter scale. One Kemps Creek local kid who knew that drive all too well as six-year-old heading down to play for Horsley Park United Soccer Club, was Judah Cleur. Since his first touch of the ball it was clear to everyone around him that he knew how to play. What they didn’t know was that he would end up where he is today.

“I was five when I first picked up a ball but I didn’t play competitively until I was six," Judah said. "My family wasn’t football mad by any means but they could see from playing in the backyard with my brothers that I enjoyed it so they threw in me as means of releasing all my childhood energy whilst playing a game I liked." 

As a young kid playing down at Horsley Park there were two evident things you could see about Judah on a football pitch. You could spot him and his first class afro from a mile away, as well as his ease of dismantling teams almost individually. The way in which he was able to glide past players much bigger than him rivalled that of the great Diego Maradona - a player Judah grew up idolising.

“I’ll never forget, I would have been eight or nine at the time when dad gave me this Maradona documentary and I can honestly say I watched it at least four to five times a week," Judah said. "I was and still am in awe of how the ball seemingly stuck to his foot. He was an entertainer of the highest order and it was that confident approach to football that I have tried to emulate in my own game.". 

After representing Horsley Park for three years, most of which he played in the age group above, Judah moved on to play in the u9’s side at Marconi Stallions. A club who is recognised nationally as being one of the finest clubs at churning out many of the country’s Socceroos. Although the under-9’s side competed in the local leagues, it gave Judah an early taste of training three to four times a week as well as being surrounded by players who were just as good, if not better, than him. Judah still speaks very highly of his former teammates and coach Mark D’Alessandro.

“Hands down one of the best coaches I’ve had. He played in the first grade side at the time so he was someone we all looked up to," Judah said. "As well as that, his passion for the game really rubbed off on me. He was the first coach to really instil that drive and determination in me so I will never forget him and the lessons he taught me."

After spending two seasons at Marconi, Judah gained selection into the Southern Districts Metropolitan side that competed against the best eleven and twelve-year-olds across all of the Sydney.

“It was my first real opportunity to compete at a high level and I loved it - the step up in the quality of players, the intensity of training, the skill, everything," Judah said. "I played against many players who are now overseas or competing within the A-League. Over the two years, my confidence grew with each game because I was able see that I have the ability to match with kids as well as surpass them. The most important thing I learnt was hard work. I moved forward knowing that it was going to be the key factor in determining how successful I’d be as a footballer.”

From Southern Districts, Judah was selected to play for Marconi Stallions under-13’s side which competed in the New South Wales Premier League; the highest level for footballers prior to playing professionally. The season was a success for Judah, who more than held his own in a side that just missed out on a finals birth.

Judah was soon asked to trial at Blacktown City FC under-14’s. Unfortunately for Judah, people didn’t come through on their word, leaving him in a tough position as all of the other Premier League trials had finished.

“For me at the time it was really tough," Judah said. I learnt about the other side of football and how heartbreaking it can be. My parents, especially my mum was tough on me in a good way at the time. They we upset for me but pushed me to ‘get back in the ring’ and go again. They knew I was good enough to play amongst the best and didn’t want to see me let one failure break me.”

This tough break resulted in Parramatta City picking him up that season who played in the New South Wales Super League. At the time it seemed to be like a step down became an instrumental season for Judah.

“At first it was a hard pill to swallow but that season at Parramatta saw me go to another level," Judah said. "I developed an attacking style to my game playing as a centre attacking midfielder. I remember early on in the season, Marconi invited me to move back and play with them but I was really enjoying myself and looking back now I’m glad I chose to stay. What at first was seen to be a step back, actually propelled me further forward as a footballer. After that season I was ready to jump back up and play with the best again.”

Marconi invited him to be a part of their under-15’s side who were set to compete in the Borneo Cup in Malaysia.

“It was awesome," Judah said. "It gave me a taste of being a footballer overseas. We played against some great technical teams from across Asia and came out on top as Champions. I guess it was that exposure overseas that ignited the idea of wanting to one day go and test myself amongst the best in Europe.”

After spending 18 months at Marconi Judah was intent on competing in Europe. At 16 he was invited to trial at Hull City which were competing in the English Premier League at the time. 

“I felt ready and prepared," Judah said. "I wasn’t overly nervous because I knew in myself that I could compete with these kids and I did. Technically I could match it but I got battered for a month. English football is very physical and it showed me that even though I was on par with many players with a ball at my feet, I wasn’t going to be able to get away with not being physical enough.”

After spending a month at Hull City, Judah moved on full of experience. He was due to head home when a friend notified him of an academy based in Genoa, Northern Italy. Judah packed up and boarded a flight to Italy. He was rewarded with selection in the academy. He spent three months there and caught the attention of an agent. Nothing came of it at the time, but Judah was promised a place there after his season at home and trials in Italy.

Judah returned home and played with Marconi in their Under-20’s side in preparation for a move back to Italy. During this period Judah trialled for the Nike Chance and made it through a gruelling trial process to be selected in the ‘last 36’ for the Oceania Finals. As the youngest player competing, Judah just missed out on making the final three. 

“After ‘The Chance’ and before I headed back to Europe, I was informed that I had trials with Roma and Torino," Judah said. "I was excited for the challenge ahead and it made me hungrier to work harder on my game before flying over. I was comfortable competing in Italy whilst at the academy so I knew I had every chance when I headed back over.”

After a season back home, Judah headed overseas to Italy. He spent 10 days at Roma before moving onto Torino. His trial period came to halt after injuring his ankle prompting a move to Spain to either play with a fourth division side or sign with Italian fourth division side Acqui U.S 1911. Acqui won out and he looked to build himself into an Italian footballer.

“Acqui was a great move for me," Judah said.  "Yeah, they were a lot lower down the pecking order in Italy so to speak but after having experience at Roma and Torino, I knew what I had to work on to reach the heights in Italian football. Although it was an exciting time for my football, it was also one the hardest times of my life too. The language barrier really got to me. I felt isolated living alone in a country where for a good four months I had no idea what people were saying to me or about me. I missed home but knew this was all a part of the process so, along with football, I practiced my Italian every day until I became fluent. From there I worked so hard on my game too. I went to another level. I made my goal to be the first on the pitch and the last to leave. In Italy it is all about tactics. You need to know everything about opposing players as means to exploit them on the pitch. It was a different take on the game that I enjoy, but still to this day I just try to focus on my game, the strengths God has given me and how I can best prepare myself.”

Judah returned to Acqui where he was going to play a key role in the heart of their attack. Just before the opening of the December transfer market, Judah started in a friendly game against a highly rated ASD OltrepòVoghera. Sitting much higher up the table than Acqui, Judah put on a show catching the attention of the clubs’ president, who only a few weeks later, offered Judah a contract when the transfer window opened.

“Knowing I’d caught the attention of another club and being offered a contract by them was something I am really proud of. It was a small reward for all the work I had put in during the season. I am happy that I signed with the club and the season that followed led to me earning a decent amount of game time off the bench with the highlight of the season coming when I saw great game time in the final of the Coppa Italia.”

Even though they lost out on the day, the experience earned from playing in a nationally televised final has put Judah in good stead as he will look to move higher up the ranks in Italy over the coming years.

Well, for a once curly headed kid from Sydney’s West, Judah has come a very long way. He knows where he wants to be and when I sat down with him a few weeks back I could literally feel the want in his words. He is a very passionate and respectful young man who will stop at nothing to fulfil a childhood dream and knows he has some people to thank.

“It is crazy to think how far I’ve come. I owe so much to my parents who have been so supportive of me and my dream across the span of my life. They pick me up when I’m down and are my biggest supporters during my triumphs. There were times in the past where my mum was extremely ill. It left me feeling helpless being so far away from home so I relied a lot on God during that time and when I looked back now I know for a fact he was in my corner.”

After sitting down with Judah, and listening to him speak, he would go on and on about desire. He spoke of an old coach of his Leo Carle (Father of Socceroo Nicky Carle) who Judah still stays in contact with today.

“Coach Leo taught me all about desire at a very early age. I know when I go and see him today he will say to me, 'Judah your will to want this is what will separate you from the rest' and this is something I believe in. Growing up I watched so many kids with far more talent than me succeed early on by being selected into these fantastic programs or those ‘super teams’ but when I look around now they are nowhere to be seen. They lost that desire and it is something that still burns inside of me today and I believe that with God, my family and my close friends, there is nothing that can stop me from reaching my goal.”

Judah, it’s been an absolute pleasure being able to document your story and I can’t wait to see you live up to the heights you so rightly deserve. You are a fine example for young footballers as to what can be achieved through hard work and determination and I for one know, there is no stopping you on your journey to the top.

J. Cole ‘took you back’

Now Judah Cleur will take you forward.

His time is coming.                              

“Just You Wait.”

Peace