The father of one of Welsh football’s newest prospects who has quit his job as a teacher to follow his son’s career has shared his delight at seeing him make his debut for his nation in one of Wales’ most famous away nights.
Eighteen-year-old Jordan James’ father Tony James, who played to a high level himself with stints at Hereford United, Burton Albion and Newport County, was gutted not to be able to watch the midfielder play out the memorable 1-1 draw with Croatia from the stands in Split on Saturday due to travel complications, but the surprise of seeing the camera pan to his son on the field made up for it.
Tony, who has quit his job teaching at a private school to follow his boy’s career and help him, said: “We were watching it on the TV and the camera was on (Luka) Modric when he was going off and we didn’t even notice JJ was coming on. Then all of a sudden they panned to him on the pitch and it was 'wow'. It was a bit of a surprise. It was amazing.
“I think JJ had a bit of a feeling he would get to come on in one of the games and he was confident it would happen over this camp. Hopefully it’s the first of many for him.”
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It’s been a “very quick” journey for the Birmingham City teen from Hereford who caught the eye playing in Wales’ Cymru Cup and bypassed the under-21s, aided by more than 50 appearances in league and cup for the Blues despite his tender age.
“It can sometimes be frustrating when he comes on late but even we tend to forget that he’s only 18,” Tony said. “He’s had a lot of experience already. You sit there and sometimes forget, and when he’s not playing you get frustrated and forget he’s so young.”
James, who qualifies for Wales through Tony who grew up in Cwmbran until his own football career took him to West Bromwich Albion at 16, started out at Hereford Pegasus Juniors - turning out for their youth sides until he was spotted at a six-a-side tournament in the West Midlands.
“It was a bit of a freak thing. He played local football in Hereford and he went to the Silverdale tournament in Birmingham,” Tony continued. “He did well in the tournament and there were Villa, Blues and someone else interested. Villa approached us about him first but the reason he went to Blues was because Blues were going back to training literally a week before Villa. He enjoyed it at Blues and we thought: ‘Well if he’s happy there he can stay there.’”
Rob Page had multiple meetings with James last season and decided to select him for his squad for the first time for the Nations League fixtures in September against Belgium and Poland, before taking him to Qatar for the World Cup.
James has been so successful he told his dad to stop working so he could watch him play on a Saturday. “Up until 35 I was playing and then I went and did UEFA badges and went on and worked in a private school and did that for five years," Tony said. "Now I’m just looking after JJ a little bit at the moment and seeing what happens. JJ told me to give up the school work because the problem was because I was working at the private school I couldn’t watch him on a Saturday and it was driving me nuts. So he said: 'Dad, come and give up work and watch me for a bit.'
“We went to Qatar and we travel as much as we can. We try and watch him home and away. We do our best to follow him around everywhere. It’s great to see him come on and to be able to soak in that atmosphere. He was delighted to finally be involved.”
Asked if he was surprised by his son’s call-up in September, Tony said: “Yes and no. He’d been playing a lot at the start of the season and he looked at it as in: ‘I’m playing every week in the Championship.’ He had it in the back of his mind and he knew they were interested.”
Now more accustomed to life in the Welsh camp, James is enjoying every minute. “He said it’s a different level. It’s a lot more specific on certain things and the style of play is different. It’s taken a little bit of adjusting but he enjoys it and likes the way Wales have played. He’s come through the system at Wales from earlier age groups playing in a certain kind of way and it helps in the full camp that he’s had that experience as well.
“The tournament felt a little bit flat but now he’s said the camp’s atmosphere is really good, really positive, and there are a lot of young lads there so he feels at home. There are lads there in their early 20s and mid 20s that have quite a number of caps. He thinks with four points from those games it’s the perfect scenario and he’s really excited for the next camp."
An all-action box-to-box midfielder, "JJ" broke into Birmingham's first team under Lee Bowyer's guidance last season and has remained a key figure since. As comfortable in a more defensive role as going forward, it is hoped he could prove a pivotal player for Wales in years to come.
Tony added that the Wales camp has been a perfect way for him to improve. “At Birmingham they’re scrapping to stay in the league and unfortunately sometimes the development of players gets put to the side a bit. It’s hard sometimes for him to analyse that and accept it, as it is for a parent watching. Sometimes seeing him only come on for a couple of minutes is frustrating but he just wants to become a regular and play. He’s done fantastically well when he’s played.”
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