Currie’s hot on establishing himself as AFC Wimbledon first-team regular after a dream debut

It was quite the start to life in AFC Wimbledon’s first team for academy graduate Jack Currie.

After establishing himself as the first choice left wing-back in Johnie Jackson’s side over pre-season, Currie not only recorded a clean sheet on his first professional start in league football, but he also scored Wimbledon’s second on their opening day 2-0 win against Gillingham at Plough Lane.

Arriving late into the box, Currie leapt above everyone inside the penalty area and guided Will Nightingale’s cross past Gills keeper Glenn Morris to help seal the Dons’ first win in all competitions in 235 days.

“It is what you dream of as a kid,” Currie told the South London Press, reflecting on his Dons debut.

“I have been at the club for such a long time, and given the situation [the first game since relegation from League One], you wanted to give the fans something to cheer about.

“The fact that it was at home meant that we were all full of confidence and energy. Scoring that goal was really something special.

“It made my parents a bit emotional, as they have helped me so much throughout my career so far. My family were over the moon. Getting the goal was the cherry on the cake.”

The 20-year-old was rewarded with a spot in League Two’s Team of the Week and was once again selected in Wimbledon’s next fixture, a 0-0 draw away with Hartlepool United.

“It was quite overwhelming after the debut,” explained Currie. “The gaffer trusted me to do a job, and I felt as though I have had the privilege to continue to do it week in, week out. It’s quite nice to get the ball rolling, have minutes under my belt and, most importantly, show everybody what I can do.

“Jacko is a really direct manager – he and Terry Skiverton [assistant manager] know what they want.

“Getting that initial confidence from them has really helped me throughout the season and it has given me a platform to play for the badge of the team I have been at for over half my life.

“I have to take a little step back once in a while and see how far I have come.

“You can’t dwell too long on a performance. Whether it’s positive or negative, you have to keep on going, playing with passion, and keep being the energetic player you are every week.”

Currie spent a fortnight painting schools and teaching the local children touch rugby in Zambia and Botswana when he was 15.

“With the language barrier, it was important that we developed other skills such as showing with our body language that we wanted to be there,” said Currie, who had to leave his phone back home as part of the trip, which was organised through his school.

“Being away from your parents was emotionally tough – you want to be calling them. It was early mornings, and we wouldn’t have much food at all – we maybe had a cheese and ham bun every day. It was really eye-opening.

“I wanted to go back, but football has stopped that. I wouldn’t have changed that experience for the world.

“It really resonated with me that you’re making these kids’ lives better, and you’re making them laugh. It made me extremely happy. I’m just so grateful we could give something back.”

Currie came into this season on the back of a successful campaign on loan at National League South side Eastbourne Borough.

The Sussex-based side reached the play-offs – losing to Oxford City in the quarter-final knockout stage – with Currie playing a prominent role. He picked up the club’s Players’ Player of the Year award when his loan spell came to an end.

“Eastbourne was massive for me – it gave me the chance to experience how much three points matter to peoples’ livelihoods,” said Currie, who also had loan spells at Leatherhead and Maidstone.

“You’re coming up against players who have been there and done it, so being able to have the confidence of knowing that I was in the starting line-up every week and having the trust of the manager to go out there and do a job, was the most important thing to me.

“The loan has helped me get to where I am today. They were great to me – it pushed me to places where I needed to be challenged.”

Currie has been with the Dons since the age of 10. He was a QPR fan growing up and idolised Adel Taarabt,

He penned a new two-year extension, with an option of a further year, in April.

“It gives me motivation – it provides me with a challenge of staying in the team and showcasing my ability,” said Currie of his bright start to life in league football.

“I want to start as many games as possible this season and be the best player I can be, but the team’s progress is the most important aspect.

“We want to get back to winning ways and get back to the high standard that we were able to play at.”