By Mark McCadden

Copyright irishmirror

St Patrick’s Athletic’s latest goalscorer could have been a rugby league star.

Jordon Garrick was born in Jamaica but moved to England at an early age, where he settled with his family in Leeds.

Garrick got as far as training with the Bradford Bulls first-team – but he had a decision to make when Swansea City came calling in 2015.

The winger also played for Swindon Town, Plymouth, Lincoln and Forest Green Rovers before his move to the League of Ireland during the summer.

He opened his Saints account in Sunday’s FAI Cup quarter-final win against Galway United, scoring the third goal in a hard-fought 3-1 extra-time win.

Garrick said: “I did dabble in rugby but it’s a bit rough for me. It’s a tough sport. I’m glad football took over in the end.”

Rugby League is the preferred version of the sport where Garrick was raised, with rugby union taking a backseat in the northwest.

“I don’t know how far I could have gone,” he continued. “I was training with Bradford Bulls at the time and they were not what they used to be.

“I was only 15 then and training with their first team. It was a good level to be at and I could have gone either way.

“That’s when Swansea came in for me and I couldn’t really turn that down.”

He made 14 Championship appearances for the Swans, scoring twice, and played more than 160 games across the Championship, League One, League Two and the National League.

When his contract at Forest Green Rovers expired at the end of last season, he opted for a change of scenery, crossing the Irish Sea to link up with Stephen Kenny’s side.

“It’s tough coming away from your family and being by yourself,” said the 27-year-old.

“But I couldn’t ask to be around better people, better staff, better players to be with. They made me feel at home from the first minute.

“They sense my frustration of just wanting to play football. They have helped me and kept me level headed. I can’t thank them enough just for being there as people, not just as players.

“Sometimes when you are in a dressing room you are with a lot of players but you are not with a lot of people that can relate. It’s been nice.

“I can’t credit them enough and thank them for all they’ve done for me in the time I’ve been here.”

Sharing a house in Celbridge with Darren Robinson, Joe Anang, Ryan McLaughlin and Barry Baggley, it wasn’t long before he was made aware of the importance of an FAI Cup run.

Pat’s will be away to Cork City in the semi-finals and Garrick would love to go all the way to the Aviva Stadium in November.

“The manager and the lads all go on about it. In the Aviva with 40,000 there and stuff like that. Bring all your family over as it’s going to be a good day out,” he said.

“I’m buzzing to try to get there and do everything I can to help the team to get there.

“Obviously, I know about the Aviva stadium and it looks like a good atmosphere, so hopefully we can go on and win it again.”

His confidence is sky high after his first goal for the Saints, a classy curling finish to seal St Pat’s progress to the last-four.

It’s been tough since his arrival to break into the side, but he has been patiently waiting for an opportunity to shine.

“The players who are playing ahead of me are keeping me out of the team. That’s a massive compliment to them. Long may they continue what they are doing,” he said.

“But I’m always going to be there pushing them. And when I get my chances hopefully I keep taking them.

“Each game is different and that’s down to the manager and staff who pick the team. The only thing I can do is keep giving them a headache and telling them and showing them that I can play and I want to play.”

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