Jack Ellis

Tell us Jack when you joined Rovers:

I joined Rovers about three and a half years ago from Cherry Orchard.

Have you any particular memories from your first year?

Yes, a great memory I have is of going to Finland shortly after I joined and going unbeaten so it was a real settler for me.

Who was your manager/coaches?

Keith Fahy and Pat Flynn were my coaches when I joined.

Did you start out as a goalkeeper?

No, I didn’t. I started out at Kilnamanagh as a forward and played there up until I was 10 years old.

Why do you think you chose to be a ‘keeper?

I chose to be a ‘keeper because even when I was playing outfield since younger I would always feel like gravitating towards the goal to try and save shots, or maybe it was because my dad knew I was never going to be good outfield😊

Tell us a bit about your progression at the club:

My progression at the club has been very good. I think I have grown as a person and as a player. Especially that I was on the TY Programme and now in Ashfield College, it was an opportunity to work on myself.

What is your training regime at the Academy?

I train Mondays, Wednesdays and sometimes Fridays in the evenings. Then on Tuesdays and Thursdays I train during the day, sometimes in the morning and other times after one o’clock.

Who is your goalkeeper hero?

My goalkeeper hero would be Manuel Neuer.

Would you study his style and tactics?

Yes, I would always study his stuff and try and bring it into my game to become a better ‘keeper because in my opinion he is the best there is. For example, the night before or on the morning of a game I look at clips on YouTube of him playing.

You get great support from your family at the games. How important is that to you?

It is very important when I get support from my family. Knowing they have my back is a great feeling.

Where do you live?

In Kilnamanagh, Tallaght.

How do you get to Roadstone for training?

Most of the time I get a lift but if I can’t then I cycle to Roadstone, it’s fine because it’s not far away.

What are you doing this year education-wise?

I am in Ashfield College three times a week doing school work then twice a week in Roadstone doing school and training.

Your dad Paul is a coach with the 2014 group. Would you talk much with him about football?

Yes, I talk to him about football every day. No matter if we are just in the car we would talk about football or if there’s a match on TV it’s just about football, football, football and it’s great.

Who would you say is the funniest in the Under 17 squad?

Oh, the funniest in the Under 17 squad, that’s a tough one but I would probably have to give it to Christian Donlon-Goncalves.

Who is the one who is always likely to have wise words?

I think Kian Dignam is always likely to have wise words.