James Donnelly from Buckinghamshire is a big coup for the club – though be it only for a brief period – and already his presence is having a ripple effect on the whole club. 

Donnelly has only played two games for the Lions but is already getting heavily involved with the club by bestowing advice on to less experienced players and putting his hand up to help coach the women’s team.

It’s the 23-year-old’s first time in the country and is working at Blantyre Farms for experience in primary produce until August.

Donnelly’s impressive accolades include captaining the Buckinghamshire County Football team from as young as 18 and the first grade team at South Hampton University while studying a sport science degree.

Between the ages of nine and 18, he was a member of a professional football academy and played for the Wycombe Wanderers.

Donnelly was selected for the England School Boys team when he was in Year 12, which saw trials conducted throughout the country.

He’s also played for Chesham United Football Club.

He’s slowing coming out of rehabilitation from a hip injury, which has seen him on the sidelines for two years and initially told he’d never be able to play again.

But rest and strengthening exercises have proven otherwise for the athlete and Donnelly thought playing for the local club will help him get back into the game.

“It’s not feeling too bad,” Donnelly said on Sunday when the Lions took on comp leaders Bathurst CSU in a jaw dropping match at Gus Smith Oval.

“I’ve been talking to my old coach from Redlands United (an Australian Football Club in Queensland) about getting fit,” he said. “I’ve been miserable not being able to play.

“While I was here on the farm I thought I’d look up the club here.”

Senior men’s coach Mark Mellish has already noticed changes and improvements, especially in structure, in both the men’s and women’s sides since Donnelly started playing in Young. 

“You don’t get the opportunity of someone of his calibre come to town that often,” Mellish said, “so I jumped on it.

“It’s a shame he can’t stay for the finals (in September) but we’re obviously very glad to have him here – it lifts other players,” he said.

“Even at training, the guys can feed off him and he’s happy to start coaching the women’s side off his own back.”

Mellish said having Donnelly playing for the club will enable his players to push themselves to lift to his standard and learn off him.

Though Donnelly normally plays centre back, he’s currently playing defensive mid-field for Lions.

“It allows our two other mid fielders more option and more ability to attack knowing he’s there behind,” Mellish said.

“It will give other guys some exposure and allow a lot of quality ball distribution and attack through the middle,” he said.

Donnelly has been helping his new teammates out with giving advice on shape, when to step-up, when to tackle and when to dropkick, decision making and having the desire to go after the ball.

He said the squad’s strengths are their big passion for the game, long passing, their movement and communication.

But he suggested they need to improve on their final ball and not rushing to give it away.

All in all the Englishman is enjoying his time in Young, saying that while the area may be small he loves how everything is so close.

The tidiness of the town and its wildlife residents are a standout for Donnelly.

“Just the other day I saw a kangaroo jumping passed the house, right through the middle of town,” he said.