Jak Hickman is fully invested in his local community.
Having spent eight years within the youth ranks at West Bromwich Albion, the 26 year-old has gone on to enjoy a senior career that has included appearances for Bolton Wanderers and led to him establishing himself as a key member of his hometown team, Halesowen Town, as they push for promotion from the Pitching In Southern League Premier Central.
Off the pitch, he is owner of the Dudley and Halesowen branch of Kixx Football Academy, which caters for youngsters who are taking their first steps into the game from the age of two up to ten.
For Hickman it’s more than just a business, it’s a mission.
“I have a passion for helping children reach their potential and a real interest in making a positive contribution to my local community,” he told us. “I want to make an impact; I want to instil confidence in every child that walks onto the pitch here.
“We’re in it for the long haul, some children progress quickly whilst others may take a little longer. If I can pass on some of the knowledge and experience that I have gained to help local kids make their way in the game, then I will be happy.”
Some of the youngsters that come under the wing of Hickman and his team of coaches are fans of the Yeltz and take great pride in cheering him from the sidelines on a Saturday afternoon.
There are also some who follow the fortunes of local rivals, Stourbridge, and this weekend both clubs go head-to-head in the latest ‘Number 9 derby’, so-called because of the bus route that links the two Black Country towns.
“It’s a game that everyone is looking forward to,” said Hickman, who had a spell at the Glassboys during the 2021/22 season. “I’ve played in a few of these now so I understand the hype around the game and how much it means to people locally.
“I’ve got kids in my academy that follow both clubs, so that rivalry is always there, particularly this season as both clubs are battling it out at the top end of the table.
“The League this season is crazy. There’s only 12 points that separate the whole top half and the lead has changed hands so many times!
“For the neutral it’s exciting, it can be frustrating when you’re involved in the thick of it and we’ve just got to make sure we can show the consistency which will see us finish right up there. All we can do is take care of our own business.
“I’m enjoying being involved. I’ve kept myself fit for the majority of the season and feel that I have put in a consistent level of performance. We’ve been able to put ourselves into a strong position and now we’re just excited for the run-in.
“As a local lad I want to play my part in bringing the good times to the club. My role on and off the pitch has to step up a level over the weeks ahead to ensure that we can get to where we want to be.
“We understand that now it’s time to get down to business and we can’t afford to take our foot off the gas at any point. We’re going to be fighting hard to achieve something come the end of the season and give our fantastic fans something to really shout about.
“The numbers that we get are superb and they made a big difference to us.”
Making a difference is something that Hickman is keen to do and he’s also a big supporter of the work that Haleowen Town do for men’s mental health, alongside Andy’s Man Club.
The Grove is home to the first Andy’s Man Club to be held in the West Midlands, with sessions taking place between 7pm and 9pm each Monday evening in the Yeltz Bar.
Andy’s Man Club is a free peer-to-peer group that provides a place for men to come together in a safe and open environment to talk about the issues or problems that they have faced or are currently facing.
“The club is doing brilliant things this season to support and bring awareness to men’s mental health,” Hickman added. “It’s something that we are really supportive of and want to showcase as much as possible.”
Andy’s Man Club are active in locations through the UK. Check their website for a full list and to find out more about the great work they do.
AndysManClub Website
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