Hi, Kia Ora, Konnichiwa!  My name is Josh Larking, and I am 12.5 years old!  I live in Auckland, NZ with my awesome 11 year old brother and my parents, Chris and Julie.  My Mum is from the Wirral Peninsula in Merseyside, England. So with Liverpool and Everton on her doorstep - it was highly likely that I was going to receive some Football DNA along the way!  My Dad grew up in Queensland, Australia playing cricket and Rugby League so I have some of his Aussie attitude as well!   I have a NZ and English Passport so look forward to visiting, living and playing in different parts of the world when I am older.

I enjoy all sports, but have especially been drawn to playing the round-ball code.  As soon as I could walk, I started kicking and dribbling (with the ball!) and have never looked back.  I have been very fortunate to have a number of good coaches and have worked hard to be invited into the Wynton Rufer Football Academy and into the Auckland Football Federation Talent Centre - which is an integral part of the NZ Football Player Development Pathway.

I train and/or play at least 5 days a week through the Academy, Talent Centre, Club and School committments. The time-table is often gruelling but I love training hard because of the results it brings with it.  I have given up playing Club Cricket and Karate (Orange Belt) and Athletics to focus on being the best footballer I can be.  I place full emphasis on warm-ups and warm-downs to ensure my body isn't over stressed and to date I have kept myself injury free - other than one sprained thumb!

My Academic record at school has been above average this year - it has to be or Mum and Dad say I can't play sports! I love most subjects - especially English, Maths and Social Studies.   I also love playing the guitar and singing.  I play in a Guitar Duo and a five piece band - music is my chill out hobby which keeps me sane!

I have been selected for the Wynton Rufer (Oceania Player of the Century!) Football Academy Tour of Japan in 2015.  This is a full on tour with two weeks of training and games against Japan's best youth teams.  This is no holiday!  Japan has one of the best rated Youth Football Training programmes in the world so their talent is very strong and the games will be very tough!  Going to, and travelling within Japan is not cheap, and I need $5,500 all up for the trip.  Mum and Dad have supported me with $1,000 and I will raise $500 from busking and $500 from a Quiz Night we are going to run.. However, I will still have a shortfall of $3.500 which is where you come in!

I would be grateful for any support you can make.  I know there are a lot of great causes out there, but I am also here to back myself as I look to make the most of the opportunities I am given.  To become a professional footballer is a dream for many and a reality for only a select few. All I can do is train the hardest I can every day in oder to turn my dream into my reality.

I invite you to join me on this journey.  At 12.5 years old, I am already 174cm and 60kg with speed and stamina on my side,  I believe that I will further develop the physique for the modern game.  I have determination, mental toughness and with my DNA combo of English football blood, Aussie grit and Kiwi grunt, I reckon I can make a difference!

Your support will be remembered, and accounted for in the future.

Please check out my video and thanks in advance !

Yours

Josh Larking